Lens attached substrate, layered lens structure, camera module, manufacturing apparatus, and manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

The present technology relates to, for example, a lens attached substrate including a substrate which has a through-hole formed therein and a light shielding film formed on a side wall of the through-hole and a lens resin portion which is formed inside the through-hole of the substrate. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a lens attached substrate, a layered lens structure, a camera module, a manufacturing apparatus, a manufacturing method, an electronic device, a computer, a program, a storage medium, a system, and the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/507,984, filed Jul. 10, 2019, which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/559,489, filed Sep. 19, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,379,323, which isa national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 and claims the benefitof PCT Application No. PCT/JP2016/003349 having an international filingdate of Jul. 15, 2016, which designated the United States, which PCTapplication claimed the benefit of Japanese Priority Patent ApplicationJP 2015-152920 filed on Jul. 31, 2015, the entire contents of each ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a lens attached substrate, a layeredlens structure, a camera module, a manufacturing apparatus, and amanufacturing method. Particularly, the present technology relates to alens attached substrate, a layered lens structure, a camera module, amanufacturing apparatus, and a manufacturing method that form a lens ina substrate which may be used to manufacture an electronic device suchas a semiconductor device or a flat panel display device.

In a wafer level lens process in which a plurality of lenses is disposedon a wafer substrate in the planar direction, it is difficult to obtainthe shape accuracy or the position accuracy when the lenses are formed.Particularly, a high level may be needed in a process of laminating thewafer substrates so as to manufacture a layered lens structure. Thus, itis difficult to laminate three layers or more in a mass-productionlevel.

Various technologies have been contrived and proposed in the wafer levellens process. For example, as the related art, there are proposed ahybrid type lens in which a lens is formed on a glass substrate and amonolithic type wafer lens which is formed only by a resin material.Further, PTL 1 proposes a method of forming a lens in a through-hole ofa substrate. Further, in order to sufficiently obtain the lens holdingstability, an opening cross-sectional shape is defined so as to widen acontact area between resin and a substrate (other than a tapered shape).Alternatively, there is proposed a method of forming unevenness byblasting a side wall surface as a countermeasure for ghost or flare.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: JP 2011-180292 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, there is a concern that a reflection is not sufficientlysuppressed even when the unevenness is formed on the side wall surfaceof the through-hole by the blasting. Thus, there is a concern that theoccurrence of the ghost or flare is not sufficiently suppressed and theimage quality is degraded.

The present technology is made in view of such circumstances, and it isdesirable to suppress degradation in image quality due to a wafer levellens.

Solution to Problem

A lens attached substrate of the present technology is a lens substrateincluding: a light-shielding film disposed on a side wall of thethrough-hole; and a lens portion disposed inside the through-hole of thesubstrate.

A method of manufacturing of the present technology includes: forming athrough-hole in a substrate; forming a light-shieling film on a sidewallof the through-hole; and forming a lens portion within the through-holesuch that the lens portion contacts the light-shielding film formed onthe sidewall of the through-hole.

An electronic apparatus of the present technology includes: a pluralityof lens substrates, each lens substrate of the plurality of substratesincluding: a substrate including a through-hole, a light-shielding filmdisposed on a sidewall of the through-hole, and a lens portion disposedinside the through-hole of the substrate; and a sensor substrate thatincludes an optical sensor.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an embodiment of the present technology, degradation inimage quality can be suppressed. Further, the present disclosure is notlimited to the advantage described herein and any advantage described inthe present disclosure may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of a layered lensstructure disclosed in PTL 1

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the layered lensstructure of the camera module of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where lens attached substratesare directly bonded to each other.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a step of forming the camera module ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of forming the camera module ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a different step of forming the cameramodule of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8A-8H are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the lensattached substrate.

FIG. 9A-9H are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 10A-10F are diagrams is a diagram illustrating a third embodimentof a camera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 11A-11D are diagrams is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodimentof a camera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 12A-12D are diagrams is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodimentof a camera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of thecamera module according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of a carriersubstrate and a lens resin portion.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a layered lens structureand a diaphragm plate.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 18A-18C are cross-sectional views illustrating the detailedconfiguration of the lens attached substrate.

FIG. 19A-19B are diagrams illustrating a lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 20A-20C are diagrams illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 21A-21F are diagrams illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are diagrams illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 23A-23G are diagrams illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 27A-27F are diagrams illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the lens attached substratemanufacturing method.

FIGS. 30A and 30B are diagrams illustrating a state where substrate-likelens attached substrates are bonded to each other.

FIGS. 31A and 31B are diagrams illustrating a state where substrate-likelens attached substrates are bonded to each other.

FIG. 32A-32F are diagrams illustrating a first laminating method oflaminating five lens attached substrates in the form of a substrate.

FIG. 33A-33F are diagrams illustrating a second laminating method oflaminating five lens attached substrates in the form of a substrate.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an eighth embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a ninth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a tenth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an eleventh embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a wafer level lamination structureas Comparative Structure Example 1.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate asComparative Structure Example 2.

FIG. 40A-40C are diagrams illustrating a lens array substratemanufacturing method of FIG. 39 .

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate asComparative Structure Example 3.

FIG. 42A-42C are diagrams illustrating a method of manufacturing thelens array substrate of FIG. 41 .

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate asComparative Structure Example 4.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing the lensarray substrate of FIG. 43 .

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate asComparative Structure Example 5.

FIG. 46A-46C are diagrams illustrating the action of resin formed as alens.

FIG. 47A-47C are diagrams illustrating the action of resin formed as alens.

FIG. 48A-48C are diagrams illustrating a lens array substrate asComparative Structure Example 6.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view of a layered lens structure asComparative Structure Example 7.

FIG. 50A-50D are diagrams illustrating the action of the layered lensstructure of FIG. 49 .

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view of a layered lens structure asComparative Structure Example 8.

FIG. 52A-52D are diagrams illustrating the action of the layered lensstructure of FIG. 51 .

FIGS. 53A and 53B are cross-sectional views of a layered lens structureemploying the present structure.

FIG. 54A-54C are schematic diagrams illustrating the layered lensstructure of FIG. 53 .

FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 56A-56C are cross-sectional views illustrating a main configurationexample of a lens attached substrate.

FIGS. 57A and 57B are cross-sectional views illustrating a mainconfiguration example of a lens attached substrate.

FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 61 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 62 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 63 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 64 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa carrier substrate processing unit.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a lensattached substrate manufacturing process.

FIGS. 66A and 66B are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of alens attached substrate manufacturing state.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of athrough-hole light shielding film forming process.

FIG. 68A-68E are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 69 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa carrier substrate processing unit.

FIG. 70 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of athrough-hole light shielding film forming process.

FIG. 71A-71F are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 72 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 73 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of alayered lens structure manufacturing process.

FIG. 74 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 75 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of acamera module manufacturing process.

FIG. 76 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 77 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a lightshielding film forming process.

FIG. 78 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configurationexample of a layered lens structure.

FIG. 79 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a lightshielding film forming process.

FIG. 80 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a carriersubstrate shape.

FIG. 81 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of athrough-hole forming process.

FIG. 82A-82D are cross-sectional views illustrating surface shapes of alight shielding film and a carrier substrate.

FIG. 83A-83D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of alight shielding film forming state.

FIG. 84 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa carrier substrate processing unit.

FIG. 85 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of athrough-hole light shielding film forming process.

FIG. 86A-86C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 87A-87C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 88 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofa carrier substrate processing unit.

FIG. 89 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of athrough-hole light shielding film forming process.

FIG. 90A-90C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 91A-91C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of athrough-hole forming state and a light shielding film forming state.

FIG. 92 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of animage capturing device as an electronic device according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 93 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of an image sensor.

FIG. 94 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of an internal information acquisition system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present technology (hereinafter,referred to as embodiments) will be described. Further, a descriptionwill be made according to the following sequence.

1. First Embodiment of Camera Module

2. Second Embodiment of Camera Module

3. Third Embodiment of Camera Module

4. Fourth Embodiment of Camera Module

5. Fifth Embodiment of Camera Module

6. Detailed Configuration of Camera Module of Fourth Embodiment

7. Sixth Embodiment of Camera Module

8. Seventh Embodiment of Camera Module

9. Detailed Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate

10. Lens Attached Substrate Manufacturing Method

11. Bonding of Lens Attached Substrates

12. Eighth and Ninth Embodiments of Camera Module

13. Tenth Embodiment of Camera Module

14. Eleventh Embodiment of Camera Module

15. Effect of Present Structure compared with Other Structure

16. Other Embodiment 1

17. Other Embodiment 2

18. Other Embodiment 3

19. Other Embodiment 4

20. Application Example to Electronic Device

21. Usage Example of Image Sensor

22. Software

23. Others

1. First Embodiment of Camera Module

FIG. 1 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of acamera module 1A as a first embodiment of a camera module 1. FIG. 1B isa schematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1A.

The camera module 1A includes a layered lens structure 11 and a lightreceiving element 12. The layered lens structure 11 includes twenty fiveoptical units 13 in total in which five optical units are provided ineach of the lengthwise and widthwise directions. The optical unit 13includes a plurality of lenses 21 in one optical axis direction. Thecamera module 1A is a compound-eye camera module with the optical units13.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the optical axes of the plurality of opticalunits 13 of the camera module 1A are disposed so as to be widened towardthe outside of the module and hence an image can be captured in a wideangle.

In FIG. 1B, the layered lens structure 11 is obtained by laminatingthree layers of the lenses 21 in order to simplify the drawings.However, it is needless to mention that more lenses 21 can be laminated.

The camera module 1A of FIG. 1 is able to produce one wide-angle imageby matching a plurality of images captured by the plurality of opticalunits 13. Since the plurality of images matches, high accuracy isdemanded in the formation and the arrangement of the optical units 13capturing the images. Further, since particularly the wide-angle-sideoptical unit 13 has a small light incident angle toward the lens 21,high accuracy is demanded even in the positional relation and thearrangement of the lenses 21 in the optical unit 13.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of a layered lensstructure that uses a fixing technology using resin of PTL 1.

In a layered lens structure 500 illustrated in FIG. 2 , resin 513 isused to fix substrates 512 each including lenses 511. The resin 513 isenergy curable resin such as UV curable resin.

Before the substrates 512 are bonded to each other, a layer of the resin513 is formed on the entire surface of each substrate 512. Subsequently,the substrates 512 are bonded to each other and the resin 513 is curedtherebetween. Accordingly, the substrates 512 bonded to each other arefixed.

However, the resin 513 is cured and contracted when the resin 513 iscured. In the case of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2 , since theresin 513 is cured after the layer of the resin 513 is formed on theentire surface of each substrate 512, the displacement amount of theresin 513 increases.

Further, even when the layered lens structure 500 formed by bonding thesubstrates 512 to each other is divided and imaging elements arecombined with each other so as to form a camera module, the layered lensstructure 500 provided in the camera module has a configuration in whichthe resin 513 exists entirely between the substrates 512 including thelenses 511 as illustrated in FIG. 2 . For this reason, when the cameramodule is mounted in a camera casing and is used for an actual purpose,there is a concern that the resin between the substrates of the layeredlens structure 500 may be thermally expanded in accordance with anincrease in temperature due to the heating of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure diagram only illustrating thelayered lens structure 11 of the camera module 1A of FIG. 1 .

The layered lens structure 11 of the camera module 1A is also formed bylaminating the lens attached substrates 41 each including the lenses 21.

In the layered lens structure 11 of the camera module 1A, the lensattached substrates 41 each including the lenses 21 are fixed to eachother in a manner completely different from the layered lens structure500 of FIG. 2 or the other related art.

That is, two lens attached substrates 41 to be laminated are directlybonded to each other by covalent binding between a surface layer ofoxides or nitrides formed on one substrate surface and a surface layerof oxides or nitrides formed on the other substrate surface. As adetailed example, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , a silicon oxide film or asilicon nitride film as a surface layer is formed on each surface of twolens attached substrates 41 to be laminated, a hydroxyl group is boundthereto, and hence two lens attached substrates 41 are bonded to eachother. Then, a dehydration condensation occurs with an increase intemperature. As a result, silicon-oxygen covalent binding is formedbetween the surface layers of two lens attached substrates 41.Accordingly, two lens attached substrates 41 are directly bonded to eachother. As a result of the condensation, the elements contained in twosurface layers may directly cause covalent binding.

In the specification, the direct bonding method indicates a method offixing two lens attached substrates 41 to each other through aninorganic layer disposed between two lens attached substrates 41, amethod of fixing two lens attached substrates 41 to each other by thechemical bonding of inorganic layers respectively disposed on thesurfaces of two lens attached substrates 41, a method of fixing two lensattached substrates 41 to each other by forming bonding by a dehydrationcondensation between inorganic layers respectively disposed on thesurfaces of two lens attached substrates 41, a method of fixing two lensattached substrates 41 to each other by forming covalent binding throughoxygen or covalent binding of elements contained in inorganic layersbetween inorganic layers respectively disposed on the surfaces of twolens attached substrates 41, or a method of fixing two lens attachedsubstrates 41 to each other by forming silicon-oxygen covalent bindingor silicon-silicon covalent binding between silicon oxide layers orsilicon nitride layers respectively disposed on the surfaces of two lensattached substrates 41.

To perform the bonding and dehydration condensation in accordance withan increase in temperature, in the embodiment, a substrate used tomanufacture a semiconductor device or a flat display device is used, alens is formed in the form of a substrate, a dehydration condensationoccurs in accordance with an increase in temperature due to the bondingin the form of the substrate, and hence bonding is performed accordingto covalent binding in the form of the substrate. A structure in whichthe inorganic layers formed on the surfaces of two lens attachedsubstrates 41 are bonded to each other by covalent binding has an effector an advantage of suppressing the deformation caused by the curingcontraction of the resin 513 across the entire substrate or thedeformation caused by the thermal expansion of the resin 513 in theactual usage state, which is a concern when the technology described inFIG. 2 and disclosed in PTL 1 is used.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a step of forming the cameramodule 1A of FIG. 1 obtained by the combination of the layered lensstructure 11 and the light receiving element 12.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , a plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41W having the lenses 21 (not illustrated) formed in theplanar direction is prepared and laminated. Accordingly, it is possibleto obtain a substrate-like layered lens structure 11W in which thesubstrate-like lens attached substrates 41W are laminated.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , a substrate-like sensor substrate 43Whaving the light receiving elements 12 formed in the planar direction isprepared while being manufactured separately from the substrate-likelayered lens structure 11W illustrated in FIG. 5 .

Then, a substrate-like camera module 44W is obtained in a manner suchthat an external terminal is brought into contact with each module of asubstrate obtained by laminating and bonding the substrate-like sensorsubstrate 43W and the substrate-like layered lens structure 11W to eachother.

Finally, the substrate-like camera module 44W is divided into the unitof a module or a chip. The divided camera module 44 is enclosed in aseparately prepared casing (not illustrated), thereby obtaining thefinal camera module 44.

In addition, in the specification and the drawings, for example, acomponent denoted by the reference numeral with “W” as in the lensattached substrate 41W indicates a state where the lens attachedsubstrate is prepared in the form of a substrate (a wafer) and acomponent denoted by the reference numeral without “W” as in the lensattached substrate 41 indicates a state where the lens attachedsubstrate is divided into the unit of a module or a chip. In addition,the same applies to the sensor substrate 43W, the camera module 44W, andthe like.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a different step of forming the cameramodule 1A of FIG. 1 obtained by the combination of the layered lensstructure 11 and the light receiving element 12.

First, the substrate-like layered lens structure 11W obtained bylaminating the substrate-like lens attached substrates 41W ismanufactured similarly to the above-described steps.

Next, the substrate-like layered lens structure 11W is divided.

Further, the substrate-like sensor substrate 43W is prepared while beingmanufactured separately from the substrate-like layered lens structure11W.

Then, one divided layered lens structure 11 is mounted on each lightreceiving element 12 of the substrate-like sensor substrate 43W.

Finally, the substrate-like sensor substrate 43W having the dividedlayered lens structures 11 mounted thereon is divided into the unit of amodule or a chip. The divided sensor substrate 43 having the layeredlens structure 11 mounted thereon is enclosed in a separately preparedcasing (not illustrated) and is brought into contact with an externalterminal, thereby obtaining the final camera module 44.

In addition, as an example of a different step of forming the cameramodule 1A of FIG. 1 obtained by combining the layered lens structure 11and the light receiving element 12, the divided camera module 44 can beobtained in a manner such that the substrate-like sensor substrate 43Willustrated in FIG. 7 is divided and each of the divided layered lensstructures 11 is mounted on each light receiving element 12 obtained asa result of the division.

FIGS. 8A to 8H are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the lensattached substrate 41 of the camera module 1A.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of thecamera module 1A similar to that of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1Asimilar to that of FIG. 1B.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the camera module 1A is a compound-eye cameramodule which includes the plurality of optical units 13 each having oneoptical axis and formed by the combination of the plurality of lenses21. The layered lens structure 11 includes twenty-five optical units 13in total so that five optical units are disposed in each of thelengthwise and widthwise directions.

In the camera module 1A, the optical axes of the plurality of opticalunits 13 are disposed so as to be widened toward the outside of themodule. Accordingly, an image can be captured in a wide angle. In FIG.8B, the layered lens structure 11 has a structure in which the lensattached substrate 41 is laminated only as three layers in order tosimplify the drawings. However, it is needless to mention that the lensattached substrates 41 may be laminated as more layers.

FIGS. 8C to 8E are diagrams illustrating the planar shapes of threelayers of the lens attached substrates 41 constituting the layered lensstructure 11.

FIG. 8C is a top view of the uppermost lens attached substrate 41 amongthree layers, FIG. 8D is a top view of the lens attached substrate 41 ofthe middle layer, and FIG. 8E is a top view of the lowermost lensattached substrate 41. Since the camera module 1 is the wide-anglecompound-eye camera module, the diameter of the lens 21 increases andthe pitch between the lenses increases as it goes toward the upperlayer.

FIGS. 8F to 8H are top views of the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrates 41W used to obtain the lens attached substrates 41illustrated in FIGS. 8C to 8E.

The lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 8F indicates asubstrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG.8C, the lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 8G indicates asubstrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG.8D, and the lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 8H indicatesa substrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 ofFIG. 8E.

The substrate-like lens attached substrates 41W illustrated in FIGS. 8Fto 8H have a configuration in which eight camera modules 1A illustratedin FIG. 8A are obtained in each substrate.

In the lens attached substrates 41W of FIGS. 8F to 8H, the pitch betweenthe lenses inside the lens attached substrate 41 as the unit of themodule is different in the upper lens attached substrate 41W and thelower lens attached substrate 41W. Meanwhile, in the lens attachedsubstrates 41W, the arrangement pitch of the lens attached substrate 41as the unit of the module is uniform from the upper lens attachedsubstrate 41W to the lower lens attached substrate 41W.

2. Second Embodiment of Camera Module

FIGS. 9A to 9H are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of a cameramodule 1B as the second embodiment of the camera module 1. FIG. 9B is aschematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1B.

The camera module 1B includes two optical units 13. Two optical units 13have a configuration in which a diaphragm plate 51 is provided at theuppermost layer of the layered lens structure 11. The diaphragm plate 51is provided with an opening portion 52.

The camera module 1B includes two optical units 13, but the opticalparameters of two optical units 13 are different from each other. Thatis, the camera module 1B includes two kinds of optical units 13 havingdifferent optical performance. Two kinds of optical units 13 caninclude, for example, the optical unit 13 which has a short focaldistance for capturing an image in a near distance and the optical unit13 which has a long focal distance for capturing an image in a fardistance.

In the camera module 1B, since the optical parameters of two opticalunits 13 are different from each other, for example, the number of thelenses 21 of two optical units 13 is different as illustrated in FIG.9B. Further, the diameter, the thickness, the surface shape, the volume,or the distance between the adjacent lenses may be different in thelenses 21 at the same layers of the layered lens structures 11 of twooptical units 13. For this reason, as for the planar shape of the lens21 of the camera module 1B, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, twooptical units 13 may have the same diameter of the lens 21. Asillustrated in FIG. 9D, the lenses 21 may have different shapes. Asillustrated in FIG. 9E, a void 21X may be formed so that the lens 21 isnot provided at one side.

FIGS. 9F to 9H are top views of the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrates 41W used to obtain the lens attached substrates 41illustrated in FIGS. 9C to 9E.

The lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 9F indicates asubstrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG.9C, the lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 9G indicates asubstrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG.9D, and the lens attached substrate 41W illustrated in FIG. 9H indicatesa substrate state corresponding to the lens attached substrate 41 ofFIG. 9E.

The substrate-like lens attached substrates 41W illustrated in FIGS. 9Fto 9H have a configuration in which sixteen camera modules 1Billustrated in FIG. 9A are obtained in each substrate.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9F to 9H, a lens having the same shape may beformed on the entire surface of the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W, a lens having a different shape may be formed thereon, ora lens may be formed or may not be formed thereon in order to form thecamera module 1B.

3. Third Embodiment of Camera Module

FIGS. 10A to 10F are diagrams illustrating a third embodiment of acamera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of a cameramodule 1C as the third embodiment of the camera module 1. FIG. 10B is aschematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1C.

The camera module 1C includes four optical units 13 in total in whichtwo optical units are provided in each of the lengthwise and widthwisedirections of the light incident surface. Four optical units 13 areformed so that the lens 21 has the same shape.

Four optical units 13 are formed so that the diaphragm plate 51 isprovided at the uppermost layer of the layered lens structure 11, butthe size of the opening portion 52 of the diaphragm plate 51 isdifferent in four optical units 13. Accordingly, the camera module 1Ccan realize, for example, the camera module 1C as below. That is, forexample, an anti-crime monitoring camera can increase an aperture stoponly in a pixel for capturing a monochrome image in the nighttime havinglow illumination in the camera module 1C that uses the light receivingelement 12 including a light receiving pixel used to monitor a colorimage in the daytime and receiving three kinds of RGB light by the useof three kinds of RGB color filters and including a light receivingpixel used to monitor a monochrome image in the nighttime without usingthe RGB color filters. For this reason, for example, the lens 21 of eachcamera module 1C has a planar shape in which the diameters of the lenses21 of four optical units 13 are equal to one another as illustrated inFIG. 10C. Further, the size of the opening portion 52 of the diaphragmplate 51 is different in accordance with the optical unit 13 asillustrated in FIG. 10D.

FIG. 10E is a top view of the substrate-like lens attached substrate 41Wused to obtain the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated in FIG. 10C.FIG. 10F is a top view illustrating a diaphragm plate 51W provided inthe form of a substrate in order to obtain the diaphragm plate 51illustrated in FIG. 10D.

The substrate-like lens attached substrate 41W of FIG. 10E and thesubstrate-like diaphragm plate 51W of FIG. 10F have a configuration inwhich eight camera modules 1C illustrated in FIG. 10A are obtained ineach substrate.

As illustrated in FIG. 10F, in the diaphragm plate 51W provided in theform of a substrate, the opening portion 52 having a different size canbe set in each optical unit 13 of the camera module 1C in order to formthe camera module 1C.

4. Fourth Embodiment of Camera Module

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams illustrating a fourth embodiment of acamera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of a cameramodule 1D as the fourth embodiment of the camera module 1. FIG. 11B is aschematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1D.

The camera module 1D includes four optical units 13 in total in whichtwo optical units are provided in the lengthwise and widthwisedirections of the light incident surface similarly to the camera module1C. Four optical units 13 are formed so as to have the same shape of thelens 21 and the same size of the opening portion 52 of the diaphragmplate 51.

In the camera module 1D, the optical axes of two optical units 13provided in each of the lengthwise and widthwise directions on the lightincident surface extend in the same direction. The one-dotted chain lineillustrated in FIG. 11B indicates each of the optical axes of theoptical units 13. Since the camera module 1D with such a configurationuses a super-resolution technology, the camera module 1D is suitablyused to capture a high-resolution image compared with the case where animage is captured by one optical unit 13.

In the camera module 1D, since an image is captured by the plurality oflight receiving elements 12 disposed at different positions while theoptical axes of each of the lengthwise and widthwise directions arealigned in the same direction or an image is captured by the lightreceiving pixel in a different area within one light receiving element12, it is possible to obtain a plurality of images which may bedifferent from one another while the optical axes are aligned in thesame direction. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-resolution imageby combining the image data according to places of the plurality ofdifferent images. For this reason, it is desirable to form the planarshape of the lens 21 of one camera module 1D so that four optical units13 are similar to one another as illustrated in FIG. 11C.

FIG. 11D is a top view of the substrate-like lens attached substrate 41Wused to obtain the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated in FIG. 11C.The substrate-like lens attached substrate 41W has a configuration inwhich eight camera modules 1D illustrated in FIG. 11A are obtained ineach substrate.

As illustrated in FIG. 11D, in the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W, the camera module 1D includes the plurality of lenses 21in order to form the camera module 1D and a plurality of lens groups forone module is disposed on the substrate at the same pitch.

5. Fifth Embodiment of Camera Module

FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating a fifth embodiment of acamera module that uses a layered lens structure according to anembodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of a cameramodule 1E as the fifth embodiment of the camera module 1. FIG. 12B is aschematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 1E.

The camera module 1E is a single-eye camera module in which the opticalunit 13 having one optical axis is provided in the camera module 1E.

FIG. 12C is a top view of the lens attached substrate 41 showing theplanar shape of the lens 21 of the camera module 1E. The camera module1E includes one optical unit 13.

FIG. 12D is a top view of the substrate-like lens attached substrate 41Wused to obtain the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated in FIG. 12C.The substrate-like lens attached substrate 41W has a configuration inwhich thirty two camera modules 1E illustrated in FIG. 12A are obtainedin each substrate.

As illustrated in FIG. 12D, in the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W, the plurality of lenses 21 for the camera module 1E isdisposed on the substrate at the same pitch.

6. Detailed Configuration of Camera Module of Fourth Embodiment

Next, the detailed configuration of the camera module 1D according tothe fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11D will be describedwith reference to FIG. 13 .

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the camera module 1D illustrated inFIG. 11B.

The camera module 1D includes the layered lens structure 11 obtained bylaminating the plurality of lens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e andthe light receiving element 12. The layered lens structure 11 includesthe plurality of optical units 13. A one-dotted chain line 84 indicatesthe optical axis of each of the optical units 13. The light receivingelement 12 is disposed at the lower side of the layered lens structure11. In the camera module 1D, light which is incident to the cameramodule 1D from the upside is transmitted through the layered lensstructure 11 and is received by the light receiving element 12 disposedat the lower side of the layered lens structure 11.

The layered lens structure 11 includes five lens attached substrates 41a to 41 e provided in a lamination state. If there is no need toparticularly distinguish five lens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e,these lens attached substrates will be simply described as the lensattached substrate 41.

Each through-hole 83 of the lens attached substrates 41 constituting thelayered lens structure 11 is formed in a so-called downward narrowedshape in which an opening width decreases as it goes downward (towardthe light receiving element 12).

The diaphragm plate 51 is disposed on the layered lens structure 11. Thediaphragm plate 51 includes, for example, a layer formed of a materialhaving a light absorbing property or a light shielding property. Thediaphragm plate 51 is provided with the opening portion 52.

The light receiving element 12 is configured as, for example, a frontsurface irradiation type or a rear surface irradiation typecomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. An on-chiplens 71 is formed on the upper surface of the light receiving element 12near the layered lens structure 11 and an external terminal 72 used toinput and output a signal is formed on the lower surface of the lightreceiving element 12.

The layered lens structure 11, the light receiving element 12, thediaphragm plate 51, and the like are received in a lens barrel 74.

A structure material 73 is disposed on the light receiving element 12.The layered lens structure 11 and the light receiving element 12 arefixed to each other through the structure material 73. The structurematerial 73 is formed of, for example, an epoxy resin.

In the embodiment, the layered lens structure 11 includes five lensattached substrates 41 a to 41 e provided in a lamination state, but thenumber of the laminated lens attached substrates 41 is not particularlylimited as long as two or more lens attached substrates are laminated.

Each of the lens attached substrates 41 constituting the layered lensstructure 11 has a configuration in which a lens resin portion 82 isadded to a carrier substrate 81. The carrier substrate 81 includes thethrough-hole 83 and the lens resin portion 82 is formed inside thethrough-hole 83. The lens resin portion 82 indicates a portionintegrated by the material forming the lens 21 together with a portionwhich includes the lens 21 and extends to the carrier substrate 81 so asto carry the lens 21.

In addition, when there is a need to distinguish the carrier substrate81, the lens resin portion 82, or the through-hole 83 of each of thelens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e, a description will be made on theassumption that carrier substrates 81 a to 81 e, lens resin portions 82a to 82 e, and through-holes 83 a to 83 e respectively correspond to thelens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e as illustrated in FIG. 13 .

Detailed Description of Lens Resin Portion

Next, the shape of the lens resin portion 82 will be described byexemplifying the lens resin portion 82 a of the lens attached substrate41 a.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of the carriersubstrate 81 a and the lens resin portion 82 a constituting the lensattached substrate 41 a.

The cross-sectional views of the carrier substrate 81 a and the lensresin portion 82 a illustrated in FIG. 14 correspond to thecross-sectional views taken along the lines B-B′ and C-C′ of the topview.

The lens resin portion 82 a is a portion which is integrated by thematerial forming the lens 21 and includes a lens portion 91 and acarrying portion 92. In the description above, the lens 21 correspondsto the entire lens portion 91 or the entire lens resin portion 82 a.

The lens portion 91 is a portion which serves as a lens. In other words,the lens portion is a “portion which collects or scatters light bydeflecting light”, a “portion including a non-spherical curved surfacesuch as a convex surface or a concave surface”, or a “portion in which aplurality of polygonal shapes used as lenses in terms of Fresnel screenor diffraction grating is sequentially disposed”.

The carrying portion 92 is a portion which extends from the lens portion91 to the carrier substrate 81 a so as to carry the lens portion 91. Thecarrying portion 92 includes an arm portion 101 and a leg portion 102and is located at the outer periphery of the lens portion 91.

The arm portion 101 is a portion which disposed at the outside of thelens portion 91 so as to contact the lens portion 91 and extends outwardwith a uniform film thickness from the lens portion 91. The leg portion102 is a portion not included in the arm portion 101 in the carryingportion 92 and includes a portion contacting the side wall of thethrough-hole 83 a. It is desirable that the film thickness of the resinof the leg portion 102 be thicker than that of the arm portion 101.

The through-hole 83 a of the carrier substrate 81 a has a circularplanar shape and the cross-sectional shape thereof is naturally the sameregardless of the diametrical direction. Even in the shape of the lensresin portion 82 a as the shape determined by the shapes of the upperdie and the lower die during the lens forming process, thecross-sectional shape is the same regardless of the diametricaldirection.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layered lensstructure 11 and the diaphragm plate 51 as a part of the camera module1D of FIG. 13 .

In the camera module 1D, light which is incident to the module isnarrowed by the diaphragm plate 51, is widened inside the layered lensstructure 11, and is incident to the light receiving element 12 (whichis not illustrated in FIG. 15 ) disposed at the lower side of thelayered lens structure 11. That is, according to the overall survey ofthe layered lens structure 11, the light which is incident to the moduletravels so as to be substantially widened downward from the openingportion 52 of the diaphragm plate 51. For this reason, as an example ofthe size of the lens resin portion 82 of the layered lens structure 11,in the layered lens structure 11 of FIG. 15 , the lens resin portion 82a provided in the lens attached substrate 41 a disposed directly belowthe diaphragm plate 51 is the smallest and the lens resin portion 82 eprovided in the lens attached substrate 41 e disposed on the lowermostlayer of the layered lens structure 11 is the largest.

If the thickness of the lens resin portion 82 of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is uniform, it is difficult to manufacture a large lenscompared with a small lens. This is because of, for example, a reason inwhich the lens is easily deformed by a load applied to the lens when thelens is manufactured and the strength of the large lens is not easilymaintained. For this reason, it is desirable that a large lens bethicker than a small lens. For this reason, in the layered lensstructure 11 of FIG. 15 , the thickness of the lens resin portion 82 issuch that the lens resin portion 82 e provided in the lens attachedsubstrate 41 e disposed on the lowermost layer is the thickest.

The layered lens structure 11 of FIG. 15 has at least one of thefollowing characteristics in order to improve the degree of freedom inthe design of the lens.

(1) The thickness of the carrier substrate 81 is different in at leastthe plurality of lens attached substrates 41 constituting the layeredlens structure 11. For example, the thickness of the carrier substrate81 is large in the lower lens attached substrate 41.(2) The opening width of the through-hole 83 of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11. For example,the opening width of the through-hole 83 is large in the lower lensattached substrate 41.(3) The diameter of the lens portion 91 provided in the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11. For example,the diameter of the lens portion 91 is large in the lens portion 91 ofthe lower lens attached substrate 41.(4) The thickness of the lens portion 91 provided in the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11. For example,the thickness of the lens portion 91 is large in the lens portion 91 ofthe lower lens attached substrate 41.(5) The distance between the lenses provided in the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11.(6) The volume of the lens resin portion 82 provided in the lensattached substrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lensattached substrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11. Forexample, the volume of the lens resin portion 82 is large in the lensresin portion 82 of the lower lens attached substrate 41.(7) The material of the lens resin portion 82 provided in the lensattached substrate 41 is different in at least the plurality of lensattached substrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11.

Generally, the light which is incident to the camera module includesvertical incident light and entering incident light. Most of theentering incident light contacts the diaphragm plate 51 so that thelight is absorbed or is reflected toward the outside of the cameramodule 1D. There is a possibility that the entering incident light whichis not narrowed by the diaphragm plate 51 may be reflected whilecontacting the side wall of the through-hole 83 according to theincident angle.

The traveling direction of the reflected light of the entering incidentlight is determined by the incident angle of the entering incident light85 and the angle of the side wall of the through-hole 83 illustrated inFIG. 13 . In the case of a so-called downward widened shape in which theopening width of the through-hole 83 increases from the light incidentside toward the light receiving element 12, when the entering incidentlight 85 having a specific incident angle and not narrowed by thediaphragm plate 51 contacts the side wall of the through-hole 83, thelight is reflected in the direction of the light receiving element 12and the light may become stray light or noise light.

However, in the layered lens structure 11 illustrated in FIG. 13 , asillustrated in FIG. 15 , the through-hole 83 has a so-called downwardnarrowed shape in which the opening width decreases downward (toward thelight receiving element 12). In the case of this shape, the enteringincident light 85 contacting the side wall of the through-hole 83 isreflected in the upward direction, that is, the incident directioninstead of the downward direction, that is, the direction of the lightreceiving element 12. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an operationor effect of suppressing the occurrence of stray light or noise light.

It is desirable that a light absorbing material be disposed on the sidewall of the through-hole 83 of the lens attached substrate 41 in orderto reduce the amount of the light reflected while contacting the sidewall.

As an example, if light (for example, visible light) having a wavelengthto be received when the camera module 1D is used as the camera is set asfirst light and light (for example, UV light) having a wavelengthdifferent from the first light is set as second light, a layer of amaterial having a light absorbing property with respect to the firstlight (visible light) may be formed on the side wall of the through-hole83 in a manner such that a material obtained by dispersing carbonparticles as a material of absorbing the first light (visible light) inthe resin cured by the second light (UV light) is applied or sprayedonto the surface of the carrier substrate 81, only the resin of the sidewall of the through-hole 83 is cured by the irradiation with the secondlight (UV light), and the resin of the other area is removed.

The layered lens structure 11 illustrated in FIG. 15 is an example of astructure in which the diaphragm plate 51 is disposed on the uppermostsubstrate of the plurality of laminated lens attached substrates 41. Thediaphragm plate 51 may be disposed while being inserted into any one ofthe intermediate lens attached substrates 41 instead of the uppermostsubstrate of the plurality of laminated lens attached substrates 41.

As another example, a layer of a material having a light absorbingproperty may be formed on the surface of the lens attached substrate 41so as to be served as a diaphragm instead of the plate-like diaphragmplate 51 formed separately from the lens attached substrate 41. Forexample, the diaphragm may be formed on the surface of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 in a manner such that a material obtained by dispersingcarbon particles as a material of absorbing the first light (visiblelight) in the resin cured by the second light (UV light) is applied orsprayed onto the surface of the lens attached substrate 41, the resin ofan area except for a desired light transmissive area so as to be servedas a diaphragm is irradiated with the second light (UV light) to curethe resin so as to remain, and the resin of a non-cured area, that is, adesired light transmissive area so as to be served as a diaphragm isremoved.

In addition, the lens attached substrate 41 having the diaphragm formedon the surface thereof may be the lens attached substrate 41 disposed onthe uppermost layer of the layered lens structure 11 or the lensattached substrate 41 as the inner layer of the layered lens structures11.

The layered lens structure 11 illustrated in FIG. 15 has a structure inwhich the lens attached substrates 41 are laminated.

As another embodiment, the layered lens structure 11 may include theplurality of lens attached substrates 41 and at least one carriersubstrate 81 without the lens resin portion 82. In this structure, thecarrier substrate 81 without the lens resin portion 82 may be disposedon the lowermost layer or the uppermost layer of the layered lensstructure 11 or may be disposed as the inner layer of the layered lensstructure 11. For example, this structure has an operation or effect inwhich the distance among the plurality of lenses of the layered lensstructure 11 or the distance between the lowermost lens resin portion 82of the layered lens structure 11 and the light receiving element 12disposed at the lower side of the layered lens structure 11 can bearbitrarily set.

Alternatively, this structure has an operation or effect in which theopening width of the carrier substrate 81 without the lens resin portion82 can be appropriately set and a light absorbing material can bedisposed in an area excluding the opening portion so as to be served asa diaphragm plate.

7. Sixth Embodiment of Camera Module

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

In FIG. 16 , the same reference numeral will be given to the componentcorresponding to the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 and onlythe difference from the camera module 1D of FIG. 13 will be mainlydescribed.

Even in a camera module 1F illustrated in FIG. 16 , the incident lightafter being narrowed by the diaphragm plate 51 is widened inside thelayered lens structure 11 and is incident to the light receiving element12 disposed at the lower side of the layered lens structure 11 similarlyto the camera module 1D illustrated in FIG. 13 . That is, according tothe overall survey of the layered lens structure 11, the light travelswhile being widened in a downward widened shape in the downwarddirection from the opening portion 52 of the diaphragm plate 51.

The camera module 1F of FIG. 16 is different from the camera module 1Dillustrated in FIG. 13 in that the cross-sectional shape of thethrough-hole 83 of each of the lens attached substrates 41 constitutingthe layered lens structure 11 has a so-called downward widened shape inwhich the opening width increases downward (toward the light receivingelement 12).

Since the layered lens structure 11 of the camera module 1F has astructure in which the incident light travels while being widened in adownward widened shape in the downward direction from the openingportion 52 of the diaphragm plate 51, for example, the carrier substrate81 rarely disturbs the optical path in the downward widened shape inwhich the opening width of the through-hole 83 is widened downwardcompared with the downward narrowed shape in which the opening width ofthe through-hole 83 is narrowed downward. Accordingly, there is aneffect that the degree of freedom in the design of the lens is high.

Further, in the case of the downward narrowed shape in which the openingwidth of the through-hole 83 decreases downward, the cross-sectionalarea of the lens resin portion 82 including the carrying portion 92 inthe substrate plane direction has a specific size in order to allow thetransmission of the light incident to the lens 21 at the lower surfaceof the lens resin portion 82 and the cross-sectional area increases fromthe lower surface of the lens resin portion 82 toward the upper surfacethereof.

On the contrary, in the case of the downward widened shape in which theopening width of the through-hole 83 increases downward, thecross-sectional area of the lower surface of the lens resin portion 82is substantially similar to that of the downward narrowed shape, but thecross-sectional area decreases from the lower surface of the lens resinportion 82 toward the upper surface thereof.

Accordingly, the structure in which the opening width of thethrough-hole 83 increases downward has an operation or effect in whichthe size of the lens resin portion 82 including the carrying portion 92can be suppressed to be small. Accordingly, there is an operation oreffect in which the above-described difficulty in the lens formingprocess for a large lens can be reduced.

8. Seventh Embodiment of Camera Module

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

Even in FIG. 17 , the same reference numeral will be given to thecomponent corresponding to FIG. 13 and only the difference from thecamera module 1D of FIG. 13 will be mainly described.

In a camera module 1G of FIG. 17 , the shapes of the lens resin portion82 and the through-hole 83 of each of the lens attached substrates 41constituting the layered lens structure 11 are also different from thoseof the camera module 1D illustrated in FIG. 13 .

The layered lens structure 11 of the camera module 1G includes both thelens attached substrate 41 with the through-hole 83 having a so-calleddownward narrowed shape in which the opening width thereof decreasesdownward (toward the light receiving element 12) and the lens attachedsubstrate 41 with the through-hole 83 having a so-called downwardwidened shape in which the opening width thereof increases upward.

In the lens attached substrate 41 of which the through-hole 83 is formedin a so-called downward narrowed shape of which the opening widthdecreases downward, the entering incident light 85 contacting the sidewall of the through-hole 83 is reflected in the upward direction, thatis, the light incident direction as described above. Accordingly, thereis an operation or effect in which the occurrence of stray light ornoise light is suppressed.

Here, in the layered lens structure 11 of FIG. 17 , the lens attachedsubstrates 41 including the through-hole 83 having a so-called downwardnarrowed shape of which the opening width decreases downward andparticularly disposed at the upper side (the light incident side) areused among the plurality of lens attached substrates 41 constituting thelayered lens structure 11.

As described above, in the lens attached substrate 41 of which thethrough-hole 83 is formed in a so-called downward widened shape in whichthe opening width increases downward, the carrier substrate 81 providedin the lens attached substrate 41 rarely disturbs the optical path.Accordingly, there is an operation or effect in which the degree offreedom in the design of the lens is improved or the size of the lensresin portion 82 including the carrying portion 92 provided in the lensattached substrate 41 is suppressed to be small.

In the layered lens structure 11 of FIG. 17 , since the light travelsdownward from the diaphragm while being widened in a downward widenedshape, the lens resin portions 82 provided in the lower lens attachedsubstrates 41 are large among the plurality of lens attached substrates41 constituting the layered lens structure 11. When the through-hole 83having a downward widened shape is used in the large lens resin portion82, there is a significant effect in which the size of the lens resinportion 82 is suppressed.

Here, in the layered lens structure 11 of FIG. 17 , particularly thelower lens attached substrates among the plurality of lens attachedsubstrates 41 constituting the layered lens structure 11 are formed asthe lens attached substrate 41 with the through-hole 83 having aso-called downward widened shape in which the opening width increasesdownward.

9. Detailed Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate

Next, the detailed configuration of the lens attached substrate 41 willbe described.

FIGS. 18A to 18C are cross-sectional views illustrating the detailedconfiguration of the lens attached substrate 41.

In addition, the uppermost lens attached substrate 41 a of five lensattached substrates 41 a to 41 e is illustrated in FIGS. 18A to 18C, butthe other lens attached substrates 41 are also formed in this way.

As the configuration of the lens attached substrate 41, any one of theconfigurations of FIGS. 18A to 18C can be employed.

In the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated in FIG. 18A, the lensresin portion 82 is formed in the through-hole 83 provided in thecarrier substrate 81 so as to block the through-hole 83 when viewed fromthe upper surface. As described above by referring to FIG. 14 , the lensresin portion 82 includes the center lens portion 91 (not illustrated)and the peripheral carrying portion 92 (not illustrated).

The side wall of the through-hole 83 of the lens attached substrate 41is provided with a film 121 which has a light absorbing property or alight shielding property in order to prevent the ghost or flare causedby the reflection of the light. The film 121 will be convenientlyreferred to as the light shielding film 121.

An upper surface layer 122 including oxides or nitrides or otherinsulation materials is formed on the upper surfaces of the carriersubstrate 81 and the lens resin portion 82, and a lower surface layer123 including oxides or nitrides or other insulation materials is formedon the lower surfaces of the carrier substrate 81 and the lens resinportion 82.

As an example, the upper surface layer 122 is formed as a reflectionpreventing film in which a plurality of low refractive index films and aplurality of high refractive index films are alternately laminated. Forexample, the reflection preventing film can be formed so that the lowrefractive index films and the high refractive index films arealternately laminated as four layers in total. The low refractive indexfilm is formed as, for example, an oxide film of SiOx (1≤x≤2), SiOC,SiOF, or the like and the high refractive index film is formed as, forexample, a metallic oxide film of TiO, TaO, Nb₂O₅, or the like.

In addition, the upper surface layer 122 may be designed to obtain adesired reflection preventing performance by using, for example, anoptical simulation. Then, the materials of the low refractive index filmand the high refractive index film, the film thickness, the number oflaminated films, and the like are not particularly limited. In theembodiment, the outermost surface of the upper surface layer 122 isformed as the low refractive index film. Here, the film thickness is,for example, 20 to 1000 nm, the density is, for example, 2.2 to 2.5g/cm³, and the flatness is, for example, about 1 nm or less. In thisway, the root mean square surface roughness Rq (RMS) is set. Further,although it will be described later in detail, the upper surface layer122 is formed as a bonding film to be bonded to the other lens attachedsubstrate 41.

As an example, the upper surface layer 122 is the reflection preventingfilm in which a plurality of low refractive index films and a pluralityof high refractive index films are alternately laminated. Among these,an inorganic reflection preventing film is desirable. As anotherexample, the upper surface layer 122 may be a single layer filmincluding oxides or nitrides or other insulation materials. Among these,an inorganic film is desirable.

As an example, the lower surface layer 123 may be a reflectionpreventing film in which a plurality of low refractive index films and aplurality of high refractive index films are alternately laminated.Among these, an inorganic reflection preventing film is desirable. Asanother example, the lower surface layer 123 may be a single layer filmincluding oxides or nitrides or other insulation materials. Among these,an inorganic film is desirable.

In the lens attached substrates 41 illustrated in FIGS. 18B and 18C,only the difference from the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated inFIG. 18A will be described.

In the lens attached substrate 41 illustrated in FIG. 18B, the filmformed on the lower surfaces of the carrier substrate 81 and the lensresin portion 82 is different from that of the lens attached substrate41 illustrated in FIG. 18A.

In the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG. 18B, a lower surface layer 124including oxides or nitrides or other insulation materials is formed onthe lower surface of the carrier substrate 81 and the lower surfacelayer 124 is not formed on the lower surface of the lens resin portion82. The lower surface layer 124 and the upper surface layer 122 may beformed of the same material or a different material.

Such a structure can be formed by, for example, a manufacturing methodin which the lower surface layer 124 is formed on the lower surface ofthe carrier substrate 81 before the formation of the lens resin portion82 and then the lens resin portion 82 is formed. Alternatively, such astructure can be formed in a manner such that the lens resin portion 82is formed and a film forming the lower surface layer 124 is laminated onthe lower surface of the carrier substrate 81 by, for example, PVD whilea mask is formed on the lens resin portion 82 and a mask is not formedon the carrier substrate 81.

In the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG. 18C, the upper surface layer125 including oxides or nitrides or other insulation materials is formedon the upper surface of the carrier substrate 81 and the upper surfacelayer 125 is not formed on the upper surface of the lens resin portion82.

Similarly, even in the lower surface of the lens attached substrate 41,the lower surface layer 124 including oxides or nitrides or otherinsulation materials is formed on the lower surface of the carriersubstrate 81 and the lower surface layer 124 is not formed on the lowersurface of the lens resin portion 82.

Such a structure can be formed by, for example, a manufacturing methodin which the upper surface layer 125 and the lower surface layer 124 areformed on the carrier substrate 81 before the formation of the lensresin portion 82 and then the lens resin portion 82 is formed.Alternatively, such a structure can be formed in a manner such that thelens resin portion 82 is formed and a film forming the upper surfacelayer 125 and the lower surface layer 124 is laminated on the surface ofthe carrier substrate 81 by, for example, PVD while a mask is formed onthe lens resin portion 82 and a mask is not formed on the carriersubstrate 81. The lower surface layer 124 and the upper surface layer125 may be formed of the same material or a different material.

The lens attached substrate 41 can have the above-describedconfiguration.

10. Lens Attached Substrate Manufacturing Method

Next, a method of manufacturing the lens attached substrate 41 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 19A and 19B to 29 .

First, a substrate-like carrier substrate 81W provided with theplurality of through-holes 83 is prepared. As the carrier substrate 81W,for example, a silicon substrate used in a general semiconductor devicecan be used. The carrier substrate 81W is formed in, for example, acircular shape illustrated in FIG. 19A and the diameter thereof is setto, for example, 200 mm or 300 mm. The carrier substrate 81W may be, forexample, a glass substrate, a resinous substrate, or a metallicsubstrate instead of a silicon substrate.

Further, in the embodiment, the planar shape of the through-hole 83 is acircular shape as illustrated in FIG. 19A, but as illustrated in FIG.19B, the planar shape of the through-hole 83 may be, for example, apolygonal shape such as a square shape.

The opening width of the through-hole 83 can be set to, for example,about 100 μm to about 20 mm. In this case, for example, about onehundred to five million through-holes can be disposed in the carriersubstrate 81W.

In the specification, the size of the through-hole 83 in the planardirection of the lens attached substrate 41 will be referred to as theopening width. Unless otherwise specified, the opening width indicatesthe length of one side when the planar shape of the through-hole 83 is asquare shape and indicates the diameter when the planar shape of thethrough-hole 83 is a circular shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 20A to 20C, in the through-hole 83, the secondopening width 132 of the second surface facing the first surface issmaller than the first opening width 131 of the first surface of thecarrier substrate 81W.

As an example of the three-dimensional shape of the through-hole 83 inwhich the second opening width 132 is smaller than the first openingwidth 131, the through-hole 83 may be formed in a truncated conicalshape or a polygonal truncated pyramid shape as illustrated in FIG. 20A.The cross-sectional shape of the side wall of the through-hole 83 may belinear as illustrated in FIG. 20A or may be curved as illustrated inFIG. 20B. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 20C, a step may beformed.

In the through-hole 83 having a shape in which the second opening width132 is smaller than the first opening width 131, when the lens resinportion 82 is formed in a manner such that resin is supplied into thethrough-hole 83 and the resin is pressed by a mold member in thedirections respectively facing the first and second surfaces, the resinformed as the lens resin portion 82 receives a force from two facingmold members so as to be pressed toward the side wall of thethrough-hole 83. Accordingly, there is an effect in which the adhesionstrength between the carrier substrate and the resin formed as the lensresin portion 82 increases.

In addition, as another embodiment of the through-hole 83, the firstopening width 131 and the second opening width 132 may have the sameshape. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the side wall of thethrough-hole 83 may be perpendicular.

<Through-Hole Forming Method Using Wet Etching>

The through-hole 83 of the carrier substrate 81W can be formed byetching the carrier substrate 81W according to wet etching.Specifically, an etching mask for preventing the etching of thenon-opening area of the carrier substrate 81W is formed on the surfaceof the carrier substrate 81W before the etching of the carrier substrate81W. As the material of the etching mask, for example, an insulationfilm such as a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film is used. Theetching mask is formed in a manner such that a layer of an etching maskmaterial is formed on the surface of the carrier substrate 81W and apattern as the planar shape of the through-hole 83 is opened in thelayer. The through-hole 83 is formed in the carrier substrate 81W byetching the carrier substrate 81W after the etching mask is formed.

For example, when single crystal silicon having a substrate surfaceorientation of (100) is used as the carrier substrate 81W, anisotropiccrystalline wet etching using an alkaline solution of KOH can be used toform the through-hole 83.

When anisotropic crystalline wet etching using an alkaline solution ofKOH is performed on the carrier substrate 81W of single crystal siliconhaving a substrate surface orientation of (100), etching is performed sothat a surface (111) appears on the opening side wall. As a result, evenwhen the planar shape of the opening portion of the etching mask isformed as a circular shape or a square shape, it is possible to obtainthe through-hole 83 of which the planar shape is a square shape, theopening width of the through-hole 83 is small in the second openingwidth 132 compared with the first opening width 131, and thethree-dimensional shape of the through-hole 83 is a truncated pyramidshape or a shape similar thereto. The angle of the side wall of thethrough-hole 83 formed in a truncated pyramid shape is about 55° withrespect to the substrate plane.

As the etching for forming the through-hole, wet etching using achemical liquid capable of etching silicon in an arbitrary shaperegardless of the limitation of the crystalline orientation anddisclosed in WO 2011/010739 A may be used as another example. As thechemical liquid, for example, a chemical liquid obtained by adding atleast one of polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkylether, and polyethylene glycol as a surface active agent to atetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution or a chemical liquidobtained by adding isopropyl alcohol to a KOH solution may be used.

When etching is performed on the carrier substrate 81W of single crystalsilicon having a substrate surface orientation of (100) by using theabove-described chemical liquid in order to form the through-hole 83, itis possible to obtain the through-hole 83 of which the planar shape is acircular shape, the second opening width 132 is smaller than the firstopening width 131, and the three-dimensional shape is formed in atruncated conical shape or a shape similar thereto in a case where theplanar shape of the opening portion of the etching mask is a circularshape.

When the planar shape of the opening portion of the etching mask is asquare shape, it is possible to obtain the through-hole 83 of which theplanar shape is a square shape, the opening width is small in the secondopening width 132 compared with the first opening width 131, and thethree-dimensional shape is formed in a truncated pyramid shape or ashape similar thereto. The angle of the side wall of the through-hole 83having the truncated conical shape or the truncated pyramid shape isabout 450 with respect to the substrate plane.

<Through-Hole Forming Method Using Dry Etching>

Further, dry etching can be used to form the through-hole 83 instead ofthe above-described wet etching.

Referring to FIGS. 21A to 21F, a method of forming the through-hole 83by dry etching will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A, an etching mask 141 is formed on one surfaceof the carrier substrate 81W. The etching mask 141 has a mask pattern inwhich a portion forming the through-hole 83 is opened.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 21B, a protection film 142 is formed so asto protect the side wall of the etching mask 141 and then as illustratedin FIG. 21C, the carrier substrate 81W is etched by a predetermineddepth through dry etching. Although the protection film 142 on thesurfaces of the carrier substrate 81W and the etching mask 141 isremoved by dry etching step, the protection film 142 of the side surfaceof the etching mask 141 remains and hence the side wall of the etchingmask 141 is protected. After the etching, as illustrated in FIG. 21D,the protection film 142 of the side wall is removed and hence theetching mask 141 is retracted in a direction in which the openingpattern size increases.

Then, the protection film forming step, the dry etching step, and theetching mask retracting step illustrated in FIGS. 21B to 21D arerepeated again plural times. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 21E,the carrier substrate 81W is etched so as to have a periodical stepshape (an unevenness shape).

Finally, when the etching mask 141 is removed, as illustrated in FIG.21F, the through-hole 83 having a stepped side wall is formed in thecarrier substrate 81W. The width (the width of each step) of thethrough-hole 83 in the stepped planar direction is set to, for example,about 400 nm to 1 μm.

When the through-hole 83 is formed by dry etching as described above,the protection film forming step, the dry etching step, and the etchingmask retracting step are repeatedly performed.

Since the side wall of the through-hole 83 is formed in a periodicalstep shape (an unevenness shape), the reflection of the incident lightcan be suppressed. Further, if the side wall of the through-hole 83 isformed in an unevenness shape having a random size, a void (a gap) isformed in the adhesive layer between the side wall and the lens formedinside the through-hole 83. Thus, there is a case in which theadhesiveness with respect to the lens is degraded due to the void.However, according to the above-described forming method, since the sidewall of the through-hole 83 is formed in a periodical unevenness shape,the adhesiveness is improved and hence a change in opticalcharacteristic due to the displacement of the lens can be suppressed.

As an example of the materials used in the steps, for example, thecarrier substrate 81W is formed as single crystal silicon, the etchingmask 141 is formed as photo resist, and the protection film 142 isformed as fluorocarbon polymer formed by using gas plasma of C₄F₈ orCHF₃. Here, the etching process can be performed by plasma etching usinga gas including F such as SF₆/O₂, C₄F₈/SF₆ and the mask retracting stepcan be performed by plasma etching including O₂ such as an O₂ gas andCF₄/O₂.

Alternatively, the carrier substrate 81W may be formed as single crystalsilicon, the etching mask 141 may be formed as SiO₂, the etching may beperformed by plasma including Cl₂, the protection film 142 may be formedas an oxide film obtained by oxidizing an etching target material usingO₂ plasma, the etching process may be performed by plasma including agas of Cl₂, and the etching mask retracting step may be performed byplasma etching using a gas including F such as CF₄/O₂.

As described above, the plurality of through-holes 83 can besimultaneously formed in the carrier substrate 81W by wet etching or dryetching, but a penetration groove 151 may be formed in an area withoutthe through-hole 83 in the carrier substrate 81W as illustrated in FIG.22A.

FIG. 22A is a top view of the carrier substrate 81W provided with thepenetration groove 151 in addition to the through-hole 83.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 22A, the penetration groove 151 isdisposed in a part between the through-holes 83 in the row direction andthe column direction so as to avoid the plurality of through-holes 83disposed in a matrix shape.

Further, the penetration groove 151 of the carrier substrate 81W can bedisposed at the same position in the lens attached substrates 41constituting the layered lens structure 11. In this case, in a statewhere the plurality of carrier substrates 81W is laminated as thelayered lens structure 11, a structure is formed in which thepenetration grooves 151 of the plurality of carrier substrates 81Wpenetrate the plurality of carrier substrates 81W as illustrated in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 22B.

The penetration groove 151 of the carrier substrate 81W as a part of thelens attached substrate 41 can have an operation or effect in which thedeformation of the lens attached substrate 41 caused by the stress isrelieved, for example, when a stress deforming the lens attachedsubstrate 41 is applied from the outside of the lens attached substrate41.

Alternatively, the penetration groove 151 can have an operation oreffect in which the deformation of the lens attached substrate 41 causedby the stress is relieved, for example, when a stress deforming the lensattached substrate 41 is generated from the inside of the lens attachedsubstrate 41.

<Lens Attached Substrate Manufacturing Method>

Next, a method of manufacturing the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W will be described with reference to FIGS. 23A to 23G.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 23A, the carrier substrate 81W providedwith the plurality of through-holes 83 is prepared. The light shieldingfilm 121 is formed on the side wall of the through-hole 83. In FIGS. 23Ato 23G, only two through-holes 83 are illustrated due to the limitedarea of the drawing paper. However, in fact, the plurality ofthrough-holes 83 is formed in the planar direction of the carriersubstrate 81W as illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B. Further, an alignmentmark (not illustrated) for matching the positions is formed in an areanear the outer periphery of the carrier substrate 81W.

An upper front surface flat portion 171 and a lower rear surface flatportion 172 of the carrier substrate 81W are formed as flat surfaceswhich are flattened as the plasma bonding performed in the subsequentstep can be performed. The thickness of the carrier substrate 81W isused as a spacer for determining the distance between the lenses whenthe lens attached substrate 41 is divided so as to overlap the otherlens attached substrate 41.

It is desirable to use a low-thermal-expansion base material of which athermal expansion coefficient is 10 ppm/° C. or less as the carriersubstrate 81W.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 23B, the carrier substrate 81W is disposedon a lower die 181 in which a plurality of concave optical transfersurfaces 182 is disposed at the same interval. More specifically, therear surface flat portion 172 of the carrier substrate 81W overlaps theflat surface 183 of the lower die 181 so that the concave opticaltransfer surface 182 is located at the inside of the through-hole 83 ofthe carrier substrate 81W. The optical transfer surface 182 of the lowerdie 181 is formed so as to correspond to the through-hole 83 of thecarrier substrate 81W as one to one and the positions of the carriersubstrate 81W and the lower die 181 in the planar direction are adjustedso that the corresponding center points of the optical transfer surface182 and the through-hole 83 match each other in the optical axisdirection. The lower die 181 is formed as a hard mold member and isformed of, for example, metal, silicon, quartz, or glass.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 23C, an energy curable resin 191 is charged(loaded) at the inside of the lower die 181 and the through-hole 83 ofthe carrier substrate 81W overlapping each other. The lens resin portion82 is formed by the energy curable resin 191. For that reason, it isdesirable to defoam the energy curable resin 191 in advance so thatbubbles are not included therein. As the defoaming process, a vacuumdefoaming process or a defoaming process using a centrifugal force isdesirable. Further, it is desirable to perform the vacuum defoamingprocess after the charging process. When the defoaming process isperformed, the lens resin portion 82 can be molded without holdingbubbles.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 23D, an upper die 201 is disposed on thelower die 181 and the carrier substrate 81W overlapping each other. Theplurality of concave optical transfer surfaces 202 is disposed on theupper die 201 at the same interval. Then, similarly to the case wherethe lower die 181 is disposed, the center points of the through-hole 83and the optical transfer surface 202 are positioned so as to match eachother with high accuracy in the optical axis direction and then theupper die 201 is disposed.

In the height direction as the lengthwise direction on the drawingpaper, the position of the upper die 201 is fixed so that a gap betweenthe upper die 201 and the lower die 181 becomes a predetermined distanceby a control device controlling a gap between the upper die 201 and thelower die 181. At this time, a space interposed between the opticaltransfer surface 202 of the upper die 201 and the optical transfersurface 182 of the lower die 181 is equal to the thickness of the lensresin portion 82 (the lens 21) calculated by the optical design.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 23E, the flat surface 203 of theupper die 201 and the front surface flat portion 171 of the carriersubstrate 81W may overlap each other similarly to the case where thelower die 181 is disposed. In this case, a distance between the upperdie 201 and the lower die 181 is equal in value to the thickness of thecarrier substrate 81W and hence both dies can be positioned with highaccuracy in the planar direction and the height direction.

When a gap between the upper die 201 and the lower die 181 is controlledat a predetermined distance, the amount of the energy curable resin 191charged dropwise into the through-hole 83 of the carrier substrate 81Wis controlled so that the resin does not flow out of the through-hole 83of the carrier substrate 81W, and the space surrounded by the upper die201, and the lower die 181 disposed on the upper and lower sides of thecarrier substrate 81W by the step of FIG. 23C. Accordingly, it ispossible to decrease the manufacturing cost without meaninglessly usingthe energy curable resin 191.

Subsequently, the energy curable resin 191 is cured in the stateillustrated in FIG. 23E. For example, the energy curable resin 191 iscured in a manner such that heat or UV light is applied thereto asenergy and the resin is left for a predetermined time. When the upperdie 201 is pressed downward or the alignment thereof is performed in thecuring state, the deformation caused by the shrinkage of the energycurable resin 191 can be suppressed to the minimum.

Thermoplastic resin may be used instead of the energy curable resin 191.In that case, when the temperature of each of the upper die 201 and thelower die 181 increases in the state illustrated in FIG. 23E, the energycurable resin 191 is molded in a lens shape and is cooled so as to becured.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 23F, the control device controlling thepositions of the upper die 201 and the lower die 181 moves the upper die201 upward and moves the lower die 181 downward so that the upper die201 and the lower die 181 are separated from the carrier substrate 81W.When the upper die 201 and the lower die 181 are separated from thecarrier substrate 81W, the lens resin portion 82 including the lens 21is formed at the inside of the through-hole 83 of the carrier substrate81W.

In addition, the surfaces of the upper die 201 and the lower die 181contacting the carrier substrate 81W may be coated with a fluorine orsilicon mold releasing agent. In this way, the carrier substrate 81W canbe easily separated from the upper die 201 and the lower die 181.Further, various coatings including fluorine containing diamond likecarbon (DLC) may be performed as a method of easily separating the diesfrom the contact surface with respect to the carrier substrate 81W.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 23G, the upper surface layer 122 is formedon the front surfaces of the carrier substrate 81W and the lens resinportion 82 and the lower surface layer 123 is formed on the rearsurfaces of the carrier substrate 81W and the lens resin portion 82. Thefront surface flat portion 171 and the rear surface flat portion 172 ofthe carrier substrate 81W may be flattened by performing chemicalmechanical polishing (CMP) if necessary before and after the formationof the upper surface layer 122 and the lower surface layer 123.

As described above, the lens attached substrate 41 can be manufacturedby forming the lens resin portion 82 in a manner such that the energycurable resin 191 is press-molded (imprinted) against the through-hole83 formed in the carrier substrate 81W by the use of the upper die 201and the lower die 181.

The shapes of the optical transfer surface 182 and the optical transfersurface 202 are not limited to the above-described concave shape and areappropriately determined in response to the shape of the lens resinportion 82. As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the lens attached substrates 41a to 41 e can have various lens shapes derived by the optical design.For example, various shapes may include a biconvex shape, a biconcaveshape, a plane convex shape, a plane concave shape, a convex meniscusshape, a concave meniscus shape, and a high-order non-spherical shape.

Further, the optical transfer surface 182 and the optical transfersurface 202 can be formed in a shape in which the formed lens shape hasa moth eye structure.

According to the above-described manufacturing method, since a change indistance in the lens resin portions 82 due to the cured shrinkage of theenergy curable resin 191 in the planar direction can be broken by theinterposed carrier substrate 81W, it is possible to control the accuracyin the distance between the lenses with high accuracy. Further, there isan effect in which the weak energy curable resin 191 is reinforced bythe strong carrier substrate 81W. Accordingly, there is an effect inwhich a lens array substrate having a plurality of easily handled lensescan be provided and the curved state of the lens array substrate can besuppressed.

<Example of Polygonal Through-Hole>

As illustrated in FIG. 19B, the planar shape of the through-hole 83 maybe, for example, a polygonal shape such as a square shape.

FIG. 24 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of the carriersubstrate 81 a and the lens resin portion 82 a of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 a when the planar shape of the through-hole 83 is a squareshape.

The cross-sectional views of the lens attached substrate 41 a of FIG. 24indicate the cross-sectional views taken along the lines B-B′ and C-C′of the top view.

As understood from comparison between the cross-sectional view takenalong the line B-B′ and the cross-sectional view taken along the lineC-C′, when the through-hole 83 a has a square shape, a distance from thecenter point of the through-hole 83 a to the upper outer edge of thethrough-hole 83 a and a distance from the center point of thethrough-hole 83 a to the lower outer edge of the through-hole 83 a aredifferent in the side direction and the diagonal direction of the squarethrough-hole 83 a and are large in the diagonal direction. For thisreason, when the lens portion 91 is formed in a circular shape in thecase of the square planar shape of the through-hole 83 a, a distancefrom the outer periphery of the lens portion 91 to the side wall of thethrough-hole 83 a, that is, the length of the carrying portion 92 needsto be a different length in the side direction and the diagonaldirection of the square shape.

Here, the lens resin portion 82 a illustrated in FIG. 24 has thefollowing structure.

(1) The length of the arm portion 101 disposed in the outer periphery ofthe lens portion 91 is the same in the side direction and the diagonaldirection of the square.

(2) The length of the leg portion 102 disposed at the outside of the armportion 101 and extending to the side wall of the through-hole 83 a isset so that the length of the leg portion 102 in the diagonal directionof the square is longer than the length of the leg portion 102 in theside direction of the square.

As illustrated in FIG. 24 , the leg portion 102 does not directlycontact the lens portion 91 and the arm portion 101 directly contactsthe lens portion 91.

The lens resin portion 82 a of FIG. 24 can have an operation or effectin which the entire lens portion 91 is uniformly supported by a constantforce while the length and the thickness of the arm portion 101 directlycontacting the lens portion 91 are the same in the entire outerperiphery of the lens portion 91.

In addition, since the entire lens portion 91 is uniformly supported bya constant force, it is possible to obtain an operation or effect inwhich a biased stress is suppressed from being non-uniformly applied toa specific part of the lens portion 91 in a manner such that a stress isuniformly transmitted to the entire lens portion 91, for example, whenthe stress is applied from the carrier substrate 81 a surrounding thethrough-hole 83 a to the entire outer periphery of the through-hole 83a.

FIG. 25 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of the carriersubstrate 81 a and the lens resin portion 82 a of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 a as the other example of the through-hole 83 having asquare planar shape.

The cross-sectional views of the lens attached substrate 41 a of FIG. 25indicate the cross-sectional views taken along the lines B-B′ and C-C′of the top view.

Even in FIG. 25 , a distance from the center point of the through-hole83 a to the upper outer edge of the through-hole 83 a and a distancefrom the center point of the through-hole 83 a to the lower outer edgeof the through-hole 83 a are different in the side direction and thediagonal direction of the square through-hole 83 a and are large in thediagonal direction similarly to FIGS. 22A and 22B. For this reason, whenthe lens portion 91 is formed in a circular shape in the case of thesquare planar shape of the through-hole 83 a, a distance from the outerperiphery of the lens portion 91 to the side wall of the through-hole 83a, that is, the length of the carrying portion 92 needs to be adifferent length in the side direction and the diagonal direction of thesquare.

Here, the lens resin portion 82 a illustrated in FIG. 25 has thefollowing structure.

(1) The length of the leg portion 102 disposed in the outer periphery ofthe lens portion 91 is set to be constant along four sides of the squarethrough-hole 83 a.

(2) In order to realize the structure of (1), the length of the armportion 101 is set so that the length of the arm portion in the diagonaldirection is longer than the length of the arm portion of the sidedirection of the square.

As illustrated in FIG. 25 , the film thickness of the resin of the legportion 102 is thicker than that of the arm portion 101. For thisreason, the volume per unit area of the lens attached substrate 41 a inthe planar direction is large in the leg portion 102 compared with thearm portion 101.

In the embodiment of FIG. 25 , since the volume of the leg portion 102is set to be small as much as possible and is set to be constant alongfour sides of the square through-hole 83 a, it is possible to obtain anoperation or effect in which when the resin is deformed so as to beswollen, a change in volume due to the deformation is suppressed as muchas possible and the change in volume does not occur non-uniformly in theentire outer periphery of the lens portion 91 as much as possible, forexample.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of thelens resin portion 82 and the through-hole 83 of the lens attachedsubstrate 41.

Each of the lens resin portion 82 and the through-hole 83 illustrated inFIG. 26 has the following structure.

(1) The side wall of the through-hole 83 is formed in a step shape witha step portion 221.

(2) The leg portion 102 of the carrying portion 92 of the lens resinportion 82 is disposed above the side wall of the through-hole 83 andextends in the planar direction of the lens attached substrate 41 on thestep portion 221 provided in the through-hole 83.

Referring to FIGS. 27A to 27F, a method of forming the steppedthrough-hole 83 illustrated in FIG. 26 will be described.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 27A, an etching stop film 241 which has aresistance for the wet etching used to open the through-hole is formedon one surface of the carrier substrate 81W. The etching stop film 241can be formed as, for example, a silicon nitride film.

Next, a hard mask 242 which has a resistance for the wet etching used toopen the through-hole is formed on the other surface of the carriersubstrate 81W. The hard mask 242 can be also formed as, for example, asilicon nitride film.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 27B, a predetermined area of the hard mask242 is opened for the first etching. In the first etching, a portion asthe upper stage of the step portion 221 of the through-hole 83 isetched. For this reason, the opening portion of the hard mask 242 forthe first etching becomes an area corresponding to the opening of theupper substrate surface of the lens attached substrate 41 of FIG. 26 .

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 27C, the carrier substrate 81W is etched bya predetermined depth in response to the opening portion of the hardmask 242 by the wet etching.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 27D, a hard mask 243 is also formed on thesurface of the etched carrier substrate 81W and the hard mask 243 isopened so as to correspond to the lower portion of the step portion 221of the through-hole 83. The second hard mask 243 can be also formed as,for example, a silicon nitride film.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 27E, the carrier substrate 81W is etched toa portion reaching the etching stop film 241 in response to the openingportion of the hard mask 243 by the wet etching.

Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 27F, the hard mask 243 of the uppersurface of the carrier substrate 81W and the etching stop film 241 ofthe lower surface thereof are removed.

As described above, when the etching for the carrier substrate 81W usedto form the through-hole is performed separately two times by the wetetching, the stepped through-hole 83 illustrated in FIG. 26 is obtained.

FIG. 28 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of the carriersubstrate 81 a and the lens resin portion 82 a of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 a in a state where the through-hole 83 a includes the stepportion 221 and the through-hole 83 a has a circular planar shape.

The cross-sectional views of the lens attached substrate 41 a of FIG. 28indicate the cross-sectional views taken along the lines B-B′ and C-C′of the top view.

When the through-hole 83 a has a circular planar shape, thecross-sectional shape of the through-hole 83 a is naturally the sameregardless of the diametrical direction. In addition, thecross-sectional shapes of the outer edge of the lens resin portion 82 a,the arm portion 101, and the leg portion 102 are the same regardless ofthe diametrical direction.

The through-hole 83 a having a step shape of FIG. 28 has an operation oreffect in which a contact area between the leg portion 102 of thecarrying portion 92 of the lens resin portion 82 and the side wall ofthe through-hole 83 a can be increased compared with the through-hole 83a of FIG. 14 that does not include the step portion 221 inside thethrough-hole 83 a. Accordingly, there is an operation or effect in whichthe adhesion strength between the lens resin portion 82 and the sidewall of the through-hole 83 a, that is, the adhesion strength betweenthe lens resin portion 82 a and the carrier substrate 81W is increased.

FIG. 29 illustrates a top view and cross-sectional views of the carriersubstrate 81 a and the lens resin portion 82 a of the lens attachedsubstrate 41 a in a state where the through-hole 83 a includes the stepportion 221 and the through-hole 83 a has a square planar shape.

The cross-sectional views of the lens attached substrate 41 a of FIG. 29indicate the cross-sectional views take along the lines B-B′ and C-C′ ofthe top view.

Each of the lens resin portion 82 and the through-hole 83 illustrated inFIG. 29 has the following structure.

(1) The length of the arm portion 101 disposed in the outer periphery ofthe lens portion 91 is the same in the side direction and the diagonaldirection of the square.

(2) The length of the leg portion 102 disposed at the outside of the armportion 101 and extending to the side wall of the through-hole 83 a isset so that the length of the leg portion 102 in the diagonal directionof the square is longer than the length of the leg portion 102 in theside direction of the square.

As illustrated in FIG. 29 , the leg portion 102 does not directlycontact the lens portion 91 and the arm portion 101 directly contactsthe lens portion 91.

The lens resin portion 82 a of FIG. 29 can have an operation or effectin which the entire lens portion 91 is uniformly supported by a constantforce while the length and the thickness of the arm portion 101 directlycontacting the lens portion 91 are the same in the entire outerperiphery of the lens portion 91 similarly to the lens resin portion 82a of FIG. 24 .

In addition, since the entire lens portion 91 is uniformly supported bya constant force, it is possible to obtain an operation or effect inwhich a biased stress is suppressed from being non-uniformly applied toa specific part of the lens portion 91 in a manner such that a stress isuniformly transmitted to the entire lens portion 91, for example, whenthe stress is applied from the carrier substrate 81 a surrounding thethrough-hole 83 a to the entire outer periphery of the through-hole 83a.

In addition, the structure of the through-hole 83 a of FIG. 29 has anoperation or effect in which a contact area between the leg portion 102of the carrying portion 92 of the lens resin portion 82 a and the sidewall of the through-hole 83 a can be increased compared with thethrough-hole 83 a of FIG. 24 or the like that does not include the stepportion 221 inside the through-hole 83 a. Accordingly, there is anoperation or effect in which the adhesion strength between the lensresin portion 82 a and the side wall of the through-hole 83 a, that is,the adhesion strength between the lens resin portion 82 a and thecarrier substrate 81 a increases.

11. Direct Bonding Between Lens Attached Substrates

Next, the direct bonding between the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrates 41W provided with the plurality of lens attached substrates41 will be described.

In the description below, as illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, thesubstrate-like lens attached substrate 41W provided with the pluralityof lens attached substrates 41 a will be referred to as a lens attachedsubstrate 41W-a and the substrate-like lens attached substrate 41Wprovided with the plurality of lens attached substrates 41 b will bereferred to as a lens attached substrate 41W-b. The same also applies tothe other lens attached substrates 41 c to 41 e.

Referring to FIGS. 31A and 31B, a method of directly bonding thesubstrate-like lens attached substrate 41W-a and the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-b to each other will be described.

In addition, in FIGS. 31A and 31B, a portion of the lens attachedsubstrate 41W-b corresponding to the portion of the lens attachedsubstrate 41W-a will be described by giving the same reference numeralas the lens attached substrate 41W-a thereto.

The upper surface layer 122 or 125 is formed on the upper surfaces ofthe lens attached substrate 41W-a and the lens attached substrate 41W-b.The lower surface layer 123 or 124 is formed on the lower surfaces ofthe lens attached substrate 41W-a and the lens attached substrate 41W-b.Then, as illustrated in FIG. 31A, a plasma activation process isperformed on the entire lower surface including the rear surface flatportion 172 of the lens attached substrate 41W-a and the entire uppersurface including the front surface flat portion 171 of the lensattached substrate 41W-b as the bonding surfaces of the lens attachedsubstrates 41W-a and 41W-b. A gas used in the plasma activation processmay be O₂, N₂, He, Ar, or H₂ as long as the plasma process can beperformed. Here, when a gas having the same element as the upper surfacelayer 122 and the lower surface layer 123 is used as the gas used in theplasma activation process, a change in quality of the films of the uppersurface layer 122 and the lower surface layer 123 can be desirablysuppressed.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 31B, the rear surface flat portion 172 ofthe lens attached substrate 41W-a is bonded to the front surface flatportion 171 of the lens attached substrate 41W-b while the surfaces areactivated.

By the bonding process between the lens attached substrates, hydrogenbinding occurs between the hydrogen of the OH group of the surface ofthe lower surface layer 123 or 124 of the lens attached substrate 41W-aand the hydrogen of the OH group of the surface of the upper surfacelayer 122 or 125 of the lens attached substrate 41W-b. Accordingly, thelens attached substrate 41W-a and the lens attached substrate 41W-b arefixed. A process of bonding the lens attached substrates to each othercan be performed under the atmospheric pressure.

An annealing process is performed on the lens attached substrate 41W-aand the lens attached substrate 41W-b subjected to the bonding process.Accordingly, the dehydration condensation occurs in the binding state ofthe hydrogen of the OH group and covalent binding is formed throughoxygen between the lower surface layer 123 or 124 of the lens attachedsubstrate 41W-a and the upper surface layer 122 or 125 of the lensattached substrate 41W-b. Alternatively, covalent binding occurs betweenthe element included in the lower surface layer 123 or 124 of the lensattached substrate 41W-a and the element included in the upper surfacelayer 122 or 125 of the lens attached substrate 41W-b. Due to thebinding, two lens attached substrates are strongly fixed to each other.In this way, the covalent binding is formed between the lower surfacelayer 123 or 124 of the upper lens attached substrate 41W and the uppersurface layer 122 or 125 of the lower lens attached substrate 41W sothat two lens attached substrates 41W are fixed to each other. In thepresent specification, this will be referred to as the direct bonding.In the method of fixing the plurality of lens attached substrates in theentire substrates by the resin disclosed in PTL 1, there is a concernthat the resin may be curably shrunk or thermally expanded and hence thelens may be deformed. On the contrary, since the direct bonding of thepresent technology does not use the resin when the plurality of lensattached substrates 41W is fixed, there is an operation or effect inwhich the plurality of lens attached substrates 41W can be fixed withoutcausing curable shrinkage or thermal expansion.

The annealing process can be also performed in the atmospheric pressure.The annealing process can be performed at the temperature equal to orhigher than 100° C., 150° C., or 200° C. due to the dehydrationcondensation. Meanwhile, the annealing process can be performed at atemperature equal to or lower than 400° C., 350° C., or 300° C. from theviewpoint of protecting the energy curable resin 191 forming the lensresin portion 82 from heat or suppressing the degassing from the energycurable resin 191.

When the lens attached substrate 41W-a and the lens attached substrate41W-b bonded to each other are returned to the environment of theatmospheric pressure in a state where the bonding process between thelens attached substrates 41W or the direct bonding process between thelens attached substrates 41W is performed in the condition other thanthe atmospheric pressure, a pressure difference occurs with respect to aspace between the lens resin portion 82 and the lens resin portion 82and the outside of the lens resin portion 82. Due to the pressuredifference, a pressure is applied to the lens resin portion 82. Thus,there is a concern that the lens resin portion 82 is deformed.

When the bonding process between the lens attached substrates 41W or thedirect bonding process between the lens attached substrates is performedin the condition of the atmospheric pressure, there is an operation oreffect in which the deformation of the lens resin portion 82 which maybe caused by the bonding performed in the condition other than theatmospheric pressure can be prevented.

Since it is possible to suppress the fluidity and the thermal expansionobtained, for example, when resin is used as an adhesive by performingthe direct bonding, that is, the plasma bonding of the substratessubjected to a plasma activation process, it is possible to improve thepositional accuracy when the lens attached substrate 41W-a and the lensattached substrate 41W-b are bonded to each other.

As described above, the upper surface layer 122 or the lower surfacelayer 123 is formed on the rear surface flat portion 172 of the lensattached substrate 41W-a and the front surface flat portion 171 of thelens attached substrate 41W-b. The upper surface layer 122 and the lowersurface layer 123 can be easily directly bonded to each other due to theplasma activation process performed in advance. That is, the lowersurface layer 123 formed on the rear surface flat portion 172 of thelens attached substrate 41W-a and the upper surface layer 122 formed onthe front surface flat portion 171 of the lens attached substrate 41W-bare also used to improve the bonding strength.

Further, when the upper surface layer 122 or the lower surface layer 123is formed as an oxide film, an influence of a change in quality of thefilm due to plasma (O₂) does not occur. For this reason, there is aneffect in which a corrosion caused by the plasma is suppressed in thelens resin portion 82.

As described above, the substrate-like lens attached substrate 41W-aprovided with the plurality of lens attached substrates 41 a and thesubstrate-like lens attached substrate 41W-b provided with the pluralityof lens attached substrates 41 b are directly bonded after the surfaceactivation process using plasma. That is, both substrates are bonded toeach other by plasma bonding.

FIGS. 32A to 32F illustrate a first laminating method of laminating fivelens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e corresponding to the layered lensstructure 11 of FIG. 13 in the form of a substrate by using the methodof bonding the substrate-like lens attached substrates 41W described byreferring to FIGS. 31A and 31B.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 32A, a substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-e located at the lowermost layer of the layered lensstructure 11 is prepared.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 32B, a substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-d located at the second layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the downside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-e.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 32C, a substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-c located at the third layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the downside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-d.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 32D, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-b located at the fourth layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the downside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-c.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 32E, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-a located at the fifth layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the downside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-b.

Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 32F, the diaphragm plate 51W located atthe upper layer of the lens attached substrate 41 a in the layered lensstructure 11 is bonded onto the substrate-like lens attached substrate41W-a.

As described above, it is possible to obtain the substrate-like layeredlens structure 11W by sequentially laminating five lens attachedsubstrates 41W-a to 41W-e provided in the form of a substrate in adirection from the lower lens attached substrate 41W of the layered lensstructure 11 toward the upper lens attached substrate 41W thereof.

FIGS. 33A to 33F illustrate a second laminating method of laminatingfive lens attached substrates 41 a to 41 e corresponding to the layeredlens structure 11 of FIG. 13 in the form of a substrate by using themethod of bonding the substrate-like lens attached substrates 41Wdescribed by referring to FIGS. 31A and 31B.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 33A, the diaphragm plate 51W located atthe upper layer of the lens attached substrate 41 a in the layered lensstructure 11 is prepared.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 33B, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-a located at the uppermost layer in the layered lensstructure 11 is bonded onto the diaphragm plate 51W while being reversedupside down.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 33C, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-b located at the second layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the upside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-a while being reversed upside down.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 33D, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-c located at the third layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the upside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-b while being reversed upside down.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 33E, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-d located at the fourth layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the upside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-c while being reversed upside down.

Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 33F, the substrate-like lens attachedsubstrate 41W-e located at the fifth layer position of the layered lensstructure 11 from the upside is bonded onto the substrate-like lensattached substrate 41W-d while being reversed upside down.

As described above, it is possible to obtain the substrate-like layeredlens structure 11W by sequentially laminating five lens attachedsubstrates 41W-a to 41W-e provided in the form of a substrate in adirection from the upper lens attached substrate 41W of the layered lensstructure 11 toward the lower lens attached substrate 41W thereof.

Since five lens attached substrates 41W-a to 41W-e laminated by thelaminating method described in FIGS. 32A to 32F or 33A to 33F aredivided into the unit of a module or a chip by the use of a blade or alaser, the layered lens structure 11 in which five lens attachedsubstrates 41 a to 41 e are laminated is obtained.

12. Eighth and Ninth Embodiments of Camera Module

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an eighth embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a ninth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

In the description of FIGS. 34 and 35 , only the difference from thecamera module E illustrated in FIG. 13 will be described.

A camera module 1H of FIG. 34 and a camera module 1J of FIG. 35 have aconfiguration in which the portion of the structure material 73 of thecamera module E illustrated in FIG. 13 is replaced by a differentportion.

In the camera module 1H of FIG. 34 , the portion of the structurematerial 73 of the camera module 1J is replaced by structure materials301 a and 301 b and an optical transparent substrate 302.

Specifically, a structure material 301 a is disposed in a part of theupper side of the light receiving element 12. The light receivingelement 12 and the optical transparent substrate 302 are fixed throughthe structure material 301 a. The structure material 301 a is, forexample, an epoxy resin.

A structure material 301 b is disposed at the upper side of the opticaltransparent substrate 302. The optical transparent substrate 302 and thelayered lens structure 11 are fixed through the structure material 301b. The structure material 301 b is, for example, an epoxy resin.

On the contrary, in the camera module 1J of FIG. 35 , the portion of thestructure material 301 a of the camera module 1H of FIG. 34 is replacedby a resin layer 311 having an optical transparent property.

The resin layer 311 is disposed at the entire upper surface of the lightreceiving element 12. The light receiving element 12 and the opticaltransparent substrate 302 are fixed through the resin layer 311. Theresin layer 311 disposed at the entire upper surface of the lightreceiving element 12 has an operation or effect in which a stress isdistributed in the entire surface of the light receiving element 12while the stress applied from the upper side of the optical transparentsubstrate 302 to the optical transparent substrate 302 is notintensively applied to a part of an area of the light receiving element12.

The structure material 301 b is disposed at the upper side of theoptical transparent substrate 302. The optical transparent substrate 302and the layered lens structure 11 are fixed through the structurematerial 301 b.

The camera module 1H of FIG. 34 and the camera module 1J of FIG. 35include the optical transparent substrate 302 at the upper side of thelight receiving element 12. The optical transparent substrate 302 has anoperation or effect in which the damage of the light receiving element12 is suppressed during, for example, the manufacturing process of thecamera module 1H or 1J.

13. Tenth Embodiment of Camera Module

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a tenth embodiment of a camera modulethat uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment of thepresent technology.

In the camera module 1J illustrated in FIG. 36 , the layered lensstructure 11 is received in a lens barrel 74. The lens barrel 74 isfixed to a moving member 332 moving along a shaft 331 by a fixed member333. When the lens barrel 74 is moved in the axial direction of theshaft 331 by a driving motor (not illustrated), a distance from thelayered lens structure 11 to the imaging surface of the light receivingelement 12 is adjusted.

The lens barrel 74, the shaft 331, the moving member 332, and the fixedmember 333 are received in a housing 334. A protection substrate 335 isdisposed at the upper portion of the light receiving element 12 and theprotection substrate 335 and the housing 334 are connected to each otherby an adhesive 336.

A mechanism for moving the layered lens structure 11 has an operation oreffect in which an auto focusing operation can be performed when acamera using the camera module 1J captures an image.

14. Eleventh Embodiment of Camera Module

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an eleventh embodiment of a cameramodule that uses a layered lens structure according to an embodiment ofthe present technology.

A camera module 1L of FIG. 37 is a camera module additionally includinga focus adjustment mechanism configured as a piezoelectric element.

That is, in the camera module 1L, the structure material 301 a isdisposed in a part of the upper side of the light receiving element 12similarly to the camera module 1H of FIG. 34 . The light receivingelement 12 and the optical transparent substrate 302 are fixed throughthe structure material 301 a. The structure material 301 a is, forexample, an epoxy resin.

A piezoelectric element 351 is disposed at the upper side of the opticaltransparent substrate 302. The optical transparent substrate 302 and thelayered lens structure 11 are fixed through the piezoelectric element351.

In the camera module 1L, the layered lens structure 11 can be moved inthe up and down direction in a manner such that a voltage is applied ornot applied to the piezoelectric element 351 disposed at the lower sideof the layered lens structure 11. The member of moving the layered lensstructure 11 is not limited to the piezoelectric element 351 and theother device of which the shape changes in accordance with whether thevoltage is applied or not. For example, a MEMS device can be used.

A mechanism moving the layered lens structure 11 has an operation oreffect in which the auto focusing operation can be performed when acamera using the camera module 1L captures an image.

15. Effect of Present Structure Compared with Different Structure

The layered lens structure 11 is a structure (hereinafter, referred toas the present structure) fixing the lens attached substrates 41 to eachother by direct bonding. The operation and the effect of the presentstructure will be described based on the comparison with the otherstructure of the lens attached substrate provided with the lens.

Comparative Structure Example 1

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a wafer level lamination structurewhich is a first substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to asComparative Structure Example 1) used to be compared with the presentstructure and is disclosed as FIG. 14B in JP 2011-138089 A (hereinafter,referred to as Comparative Literature 1).

A wafer level lamination structure 1000 illustrated in FIG. 38 has astructure in which two lens array substrates 1021 are laminated on asensor array substrate 1012 in which a plurality of image sensors 1011is disposed on a wafer substrate 1010 through a columnar spacer 1022.Each lens array substrate 1021 includes a lens attached substrate 1031and a lens 1032 which is formed in a plurality of through-hole portionsprovided in the lens attached substrate 1031.

Comparative Structure Example 2

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate which is asecond substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to as ComparativeStructure Example 2) used to be compared with the present structure andis disclosed as FIG. 5A in JP 2009-279790 A (hereinafter, referred to asComparative Literature 2).

In a lens array substrate 1041 illustrated in FIG. 39 , a lens 1053 isprovided in each of a plurality of through-holes 1052 provided in aplate-like substrate 1051. Each lens 1053 is formed of a resin (energycurable resin) 1054 and the resin 1054 is also formed on the uppersurface of the substrate 1051.

Referring to FIGS. 40A to 40C, a method of manufacturing the lens arraysubstrate 1041 of FIG. 39 will be simply described.

FIG. 40A illustrates a state where the substrate 1051 provided with theplurality of through-holes 1052 is placed on a lower die 1061. The lowerdie 1061 is a mold that presses the resin 1054 in a direction from thedownside toward the upside in the subsequent steps.

FIG. 40B illustrates a state where the resin 1054 is applied into theplurality of through-holes 1052 and onto the upper surface of thesubstrate 1051, an upper die 1062 is disposed on the substrate 1051, andthe resin is press-molded by the upper die 1062 and the lower die 1061.The upper die 1062 is a mold that presses the resin 1054 in a directionfrom the upside toward the downside. In the state illustrated in FIG.40B, the resin 1054 is cured.

FIG. 40C illustrates a state where the upper die 1062 and the lower die1061 are separated from the cured resin 1054 and the lens arraysubstrate 1041 is completed.

The lens array substrate 1041 has the following characteristic points.

(1) The resin 1054 formed at the position of the through-hole 1052 ofthe substrate 1051 is formed as the lens 1053 and the lens 1053 isformed at a plurality of positions of the substrate 1051.

(2) The resin 1054 is formed as a thin layer on the entire upper surfaceof the substrate 1051 located among the plurality of lenses 1053.

In the case of the structure in which the lens array substrates 1041 arelaminated, there is an operation or effect in which a thin layer of theresin 1054 formed on the entire upper surface of the substrate 1051serves as an adhesive used to bond the substrates to each other.

Further, in the case of the structure in which the lens array substrates1041 are laminated, an area for bonding the substrates can be increasedcompared with the wafer level lamination structure 1000 of FIG. 38 asComparative Structure Example 1 and hence the substrates can be bondedto each other by the stronger force.

<Action of Resin of Comparative Structure Example 2>

In Comparative Literature 2 in which the lens array substrate 1041 ofFIG. 39 as Comparative Structure Example 2 is disclosed, the followingactions of the resin 1054 as the lens 1053 are disclosed.

In Comparative Structure Example 2, an energy curable resin is used asthe resin 1054. Then, a light curable resin is used as an example of theenergy curable resin. When the light curable resin is used as the energycurable resin, the resin 1054 is cured when the resin 1054 is irradiatedwith UV light. Due to the curing operation, the resin 1054 is cured andshrunk.

However, according to the structure of the lens array substrate 1041 ofFIG. 39 , since the substrate 1051 is interposed between the pluralityof lenses 1053 even when the resin 1054 is cured and shrunk, a change indistance between the lenses 1053 caused by the curable shrinkage of theresin 1054 can be broken. Accordingly, the curved state of the lensarray substrate 1041 provided with the plurality of lenses 1053 can besuppressed.

Comparative Structure Example 3

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate which is athird substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to as ComparativeStructure Example 3) used to be compared with the present structure andis disclosed as FIG. 1 in JP 2010-256563 A (hereinafter, referred to asComparative Literature 3).

In a lens array substrate 1081 illustrated in FIG. 41 , a lens 1093 isprovided in each of a plurality of through-holes 1092 provided in aplate-like substrate 1091. Each lens 1093 is formed of a resin (energycurable resin) 1094 and the resin 1094 is also formed on the uppersurface of the substrate 1091 without the through-hole 1092.

Referring to FIGS. 42A to 42C, a method of manufacturing the lens arraysubstrate 1081 of FIG. 41 will be simply described.

FIG. 42A illustrates a state where the substrate 1091 provided with theplurality of through-holes 1092 is placed on a lower die 1101. The lowerdie 1101 is a mold that presses the resin 1094 in a direction from thedownside toward the upside in the subsequent steps.

FIG. 42B illustrates a state where the resin 1094 is applied into theplurality of through-holes 1092 and onto the upper surface of thesubstrate 1091, an upper die 1102 is disposed on the substrate 1091, andthe resin is press-molded by the use of the upper die 1102 and the lowerdie 1101. The upper die 1102 is a mold that presses the resin 1094 in adirection from the upside toward the downside. In the state illustratedin FIG. 42B, the resin 1094 is cured.

FIG. 42C illustrates a state where the upper die 1102 and the lower die1101 are separated from the cured resin 1094 and the lens arraysubstrate 1081 is completed.

The lens array substrate 1081 has the following characteristic points.

(1) The resin 1094 formed at the position of the through-hole 1092 ofthe substrate 1091 is formed as the lens 1093 and the lens 1093 isformed at a plurality of positions of the substrate 1091.

(2) The resin 1094 is formed as a thin layer on the entire upper surfaceof the substrate 1091 located among the plurality of lenses 1093.

<Action of Resin of Comparative Structure Example 3>

In Comparative Literature 3 in which the lens array substrate 1081 ofFIG. 41 as Comparative Structure Example 3 is disclosed, the followingactions of the resin 1094 as the lens 1093 are disclosed.

In Comparative Structure Example 3, an energy curable resin is used asthe resin 1094. Then, a light curable resin is used as an example of theenergy curable resin. When the light curable resin is used as the energycurable resin, the resin 1094 is cured when the resin 1094 is irradiatedwith UV light. Due to the curing operation, the resin 1094 is cured andshrunk.

However, according to the structure of the lens array substrate 1081 ofFIG. 41 , it is possible to break a change in distance between thelenses 1093 due to the curable shrinkage of the resin 1094 since thesubstrate 1091 is interposed among the plurality of lenses 1093 evenwhen the resin 1094 is cured and shrunk. Accordingly, it is possible tosuppress the curved state of the lens array substrate 1081 provided withthe plurality of lenses 1093.

As described above, Comparative Literature 2 and 3 disclose the curableshrinkage occurring when the light curable resin is cured. Further, thecurable shrinkage occurring when the light curable resin is cured isalso disclosed in, for example, JP 2013-1091 A other than ComparativeLiterature 2 and 3.

Further, a problem in which the resin is cured and shrunk when the resinis molded in a lens shape and the molded resin is cured is not limitedto the case of the light curable resin. For example, even in the case ofthe thermally curable resin as a kind of the energy curable resin, aproblem arises in that the resin is cured and shrunk in the cured statesimilarly to the light curable resin. This problem is also disclosed in,for example, Comparative Literature 1 or 3 and JP 2010-204631 A.

Comparative Structure Example 4

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate which is afourth substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to as ComparativeStructure Example 4) used to be compared with the present structure andis disclosed as FIG. 6 in Comparative Literature 2.

A lens array substrate 1121 of FIG. 43 is different from the lens arraysubstrate 1041 illustrated in FIG. 39 in that the shape of the substrate1141 other than the portion of the through-hole 1042 protrudes in boththe upward and downward directions and resin 1144 is formed in a part ofthe lower surface of the substrate 1141. The other configuration of thelens array substrate 1121 is similar to that of the lens array substrate1041 illustrated in FIG. 39 .

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing the lensarray substrate 1121 of FIG. 43 and is a diagram corresponding to FIG.40B.

FIG. 44 illustrates a state where the resin 1144 is applied into theplurality of through-holes 1142 and onto the upper surface of thesubstrate 1141 and is press-molded by the upper die 1152 and the lowerdie 1151. The resin 1144 is also injected between the lower surface ofthe substrate 1141 and the lower die 1151. In the state illustrated inFIG. 44 , the resin 1144 is cured.

The lens array substrate 1121 has the following characteristic points.

(1) The resin 1144 formed at the position of the through-hole 1142 ofthe substrate 1141 is formed as a lens 1143 and the lens 1143 is formedat a plurality of positions of the substrate 1141.

(2) The resin 1144 is formed as a thin layer on a part of the lowersurface of the substrate 1141 as well as the entire upper surface of thesubstrate 1141 located among the plurality of lenses 1143.

<Action of Resin of Comparative Structure Example 4>

In Comparative Literature 2 in which the lens array substrate 1121 ofFIG. 43 as Comparative Structure Example 4 is disclosed, the followingactions of the resin 1144 as the lens 1143 are disclosed.

Even in the lens array substrate 1121 of FIG. 43 as ComparativeStructure Example 4, the light curable resin as an example of the energycurable resin is used as the resin 1144. Then, when the resin 1144 isirradiated with UV light, the resin 1144 is cured. Due to the curingoperation, the resin 1144 is cured and shrunk similarly to ComparativeStructure Examples 2 and 3.

However, in the lens array substrate 1121 of Comparative StructureExample 4, the resin 1144 is formed as a thin layer on a predeterminedarea of the lower surface of the substrate 1141 as well as the entireupper surface of the substrate 1141 located among the plurality oflenses 1143.

In this way, when the resin 1144 is formed on both upper and lowersurfaces of the substrate 1141, the curved direction of the entire lensarray substrate 1121 can be offset.

On the contrary, in the lens array substrate 1041 illustrated in FIG. 39as Comparative Structure Example 2, the resin 1054 is formed as a thinlayer on the entire upper surface of the substrate 1051 located amongthe plurality of lenses 1053, but a thin layer of the resin 1054 is notformed on the lower surface of the substrate 1051.

Thus, according to the lens array substrate 1121 of FIG. 43 , it ispossible to provide a lens array substrate of which the curved amount issmaller than that of the lens array substrate 1041 of FIG. 39 .

Comparative Structure Example 5

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view of a lens array substrate which is afifth substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to as ComparativeStructure Example 5) used to be compared with the present structure andis disclosed as FIG. 9 of Comparative Literature 2.

A lens array substrate 1161 of FIG. 45 is different from the lens arraysubstrate 1041 illustrated in FIG. 39 in that the rear surface of thesubstrate in the vicinity of a through-hole 1172 provided in a substrate1171 is provided with a resin visible area 1175. The other configurationof the lens array substrate 1161 is similar to that of the lens arraysubstrate 1041 illustrated in FIG. 39 .

In addition, the lens array substrate 1161 of FIG. 45 is divided.

The lens array substrate 1161 has the following characteristic points.

(1) Resin 1174 formed at the position of the through-hole 1172 of thesubstrate 1171 is formed as a lens 1173 and the lens 1173 is formed at aplurality of positions of the substrate 1171.

(2) The resin 1174 is formed as a thin layer on a part of the lowersurface of the substrate 1171 as well as the entire upper surface of thesubstrate 1171 located among the plurality of lenses 1173.

<Action of Resin of Comparative Structure Example 5>

In Comparative Literature 2 in which the lens array substrate 1161 ofFIG. 45 as Comparative Structure Example 5 is disclosed, the followingactions of the resin 1174 as the lens 1173 are disclosed.

Even in the lens array substrate 1161 of FIG. 45 as ComparativeStructure Example 5, the light curable resin as an example of the energycurable resin is used as the resin 1174. Then, when the resin 1174 isirradiated with UV light, the resin 1174 is cured. Due to the curingoperation, the resin 1174 is cured and shrunk similarly to ComparativeStructure Examples 2 and 3.

However, in the lens array substrate 1171 of Comparative StructureExample 5, the resin 1174 is formed as a thin layer (the resin visiblearea 1175) on a predetermined area of the lower surface of the substrate1171 as well as the entire upper surface of the substrate 1171 locatedamong the plurality of lenses 1173. Accordingly, it is possible toprovide the lens array substrate in which the curved direction of theentire lens array substrate 1171 is offset and the curved amount isfurther decreased.

<Comparison of Action of Resin of Comparative Structure Examples 2 to 5>

In Comparative Structure Examples 2 to 5, the action of the resin issummarized as below.

(1) The substrate provided with the plurality of lenses is curved in thecase of the structure in which the resin layer is disposed on the entireupper surface of the lens array substrate similarly to ComparativeStructure Examples 2 and 3.

FIGS. 46A to 46C are diagrams schematically illustrating a structure inwhich a resin layer is disposed on the entire upper surface of the lensarray substrate similarly to Comparative Structure Examples 2 and 3 andis a diagram illustrating the action of the resin as the lens.

As illustrated in FIGS. 46A and 46B, a curable shrinkage occurs due tothe irradiation with UV light for a curing operation on the layer of alight curable resin 1212 disposed on an upper surface of a lens arraysubstrate 1211 (where a lens and a through-hole are not illustrated).Accordingly, force in the shrinkage direction caused by the lightcurable resin 1212 occurs within the layer of the light curable resin1212.

Meanwhile, the lens array substrate 1211 is not shrunk and expanded evenwhen the substrate is irradiated with UV light. That is, a force causedby the substrate does not occur in the lens array substrate 1211. As aresult, the lens array substrate 1211 is curved downward as illustratedin FIG. 46C.

(2) However, since the curved direction of the lens array substrate isoffset in the case of the structure in which the resin layer is disposedon both upper and lower surfaces of the lens array substrate similarlyto Comparative Structure Examples 4 and 5, the curved amount of the lensarray substrate can be decreased compared with Comparative StructureExamples 2 and 3.

FIGS. 47A to 47C are diagrams schematically illustrating a structure inwhich a resin layer is disposed on both upper and lower surfaces of thelens array substrate similarly to Comparative Structure Examples 4 and 5and is a diagram illustrating the action of the resin as the lens.

As illustrated in FIGS. 47A and 47B, a curable shrinkage occurs due tothe irradiation with UV light for a curing operation on the layer of thelight curable resin 1212 disposed on the upper surface of the lens arraysubstrate 1211. Accordingly, force in the shrinkage direction caused bythe light curable resin 1212 occurs within the layer of the lightcurable resin 1212 disposed on the upper surface of the lens arraysubstrate 1211. For this reason, a force of curving the lens arraysubstrate 1211 downward in a convex shape is exerted on the uppersurface side of the lens array substrate 1211.

On the contrary, the lens array substrate 1211 is not shrunk andexpanded even when the substrate is irradiated with UV light. That is, aforce caused by the substrate does not occur in the lens array substrate1211.

Meanwhile, a curable shrinkage occurs due to the irradiation with UVlight for a curing operation on the layer of the light curable resin1212 disposed on the lower surface of the lens array substrate 1211.Accordingly, force in the shrinkage direction caused by the lightcurable resin 1212 occurs within the layer of the light curable resin1212 disposed on the lower surface of the lens array substrate 1211. Forthis reason, a force of curving the lens array substrate 1211 upward ina convex shape is exerted at the lower surface side of the lens arraysubstrate 1211.

A force of curving the lens array substrate 1211 downward in a convexshape at the upper surface side of the lens array substrate 1211 and aforce of curving the lens array substrate 1211 upward in a convex shapeat the lower surface side of the lens array substrate 1211 are exertedso as to be offset.

As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 47C, the curved amount of the lensarray substrate 1211 of Comparative Structure Examples 4 and 5 becomessmaller than the curved amount of Comparative Structure Examples 2 and 3illustrated in FIG. 46C.

As described above, the lens array substrate curving force and the lensarray substrate curved amount are influenced by the relative relationbetween

(1) the direction and the degree of the force acting on the lens arraysubstrate at the upper surface of the lens array substrate, and

(2) the direction and the degree of the force acting on the lens arraysubstrate at the lower surface of the lens array substrate.

Comparative Structure Example 6

Here, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 48A, a lens array substratestructure is considered in which the layer and the area of the lightcurable resin 1212 disposed at the upper surface of the lens arraysubstrate 1211 and the layer and the area of the light curable resin1212 disposed at the lower surface of the lens array substrate 1211 arethe same. The lens array substrate structure will be referred to as asixth substrate structure (hereinafter, referred to as ComparativeStructure Example 6) used to be compared with the present structure.

In Comparative Structure Example 6, force in the shrinkage directioncaused by the light curable resin 1212 is exerted in the layer of thelight curable resin 1212 disposed on the upper surface of the lens arraysubstrate 1211. A force caused by the substrate does not occur in thelens array substrate 1211. For this reason, a force of curving the lensarray substrate 1211 downward in a convex shape is exerted at the uppersurface side of the lens array substrate 1211.

Meanwhile, force in the shrinkage direction caused by the light curableresin 1212 occurs in the layer of the light curable resin 1212 disposedon the lower surface of the lens array substrate 1211. A force caused bythe substrate does not occur in the lens array substrate 1211. For thisreason, a force of curving the lens array substrate 1211 upward in aconvex shape is exerted at the lower surface side of the lens arraysubstrate 1211.

Two forces of curving the lens array substrate 1211 are exerted in adirection in which the forces can be further offset compared with thestructure illustrated in FIG. 47A. As a result, the force of curving thelens array substrate 1211 and the curved amount of the lens arraysubstrate 1211 are further decreased compared with Comparative StructureExamples 4 and 5.

Comparative Structure Example 7

Incidentally, the lens attached substrates constituting the layered lensstructure assembled to the camera module actually do not have the sameshape. More specifically, there is a case in which the plurality of lensattached substrates constituting the layered lens structure may have,for example, a difference in the thickness of the lens attachedsubstrate or the size of the through-hole or a difference in thethickness, the shape, or the volume of the lens formed in thethrough-hole. More specifically, there is also a case in which the filmthickness or the like of the light curable resin formed on the upper andlower surfaces of the lens attached substrate may be different in eachlens attached substrate.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view of a layered lens structure in whichthree lens attached substrates are laminated as a seventh substratestructure (hereinafter, referred to as Comparative Structure Example 7).In the layered lens structure, it is assumed that the layer and the areaof the light curable resin disposed on the upper and lower surfaces ofeach lens attached substrate are the same similarly to ComparativeStructure Example 6 illustrated in FIGS. 48A to 48C.

A layered lens structure 1311 illustrated in FIG. 49 includes three lensattached substrates 1321 to 1323.

In the description below, the middle lens attached substrate 1321 ofthree lens attached substrates 1321 to 1323 will be referred to as thefirst lens attached substrate 1321, the uppermost lens attachedsubstrate 1322 will be referred to as the second lens attached substrate1322, and the lowermost lens attached substrate 1323 will be referred toas the third lens attached substrate 1323.

The second lens attached substrate 1322 disposed at the uppermost layerand the third lens attached substrate 1323 disposed at the lowermostlayer have a different substrate thickness and a different lensthickness.

More specifically, the thickness of the lens of the third lens attachedsubstrate 1323 is larger than that of the second lens attached substrate1322. Accordingly, the thickness of the substrate of the third lensattached substrate 1323 is larger than that of the second lens attachedsubstrate 1322.

Resin 1341 is formed on the entire contact surface between the firstlens attached substrate 1321 and the second lens attached substrate 1322and the entire contact surface between the first lens attached substrate1321 and the third lens attached substrate 1323.

The cross-sectional shape of the through-hole of each of three lensattached substrates 1321 to 1323 is a so-called downward widened shapein which the lower surface of the substrate is wider than the uppersurface of the substrate.

Referring to FIGS. 50A to 50D, an effect obtained by three lens attachedsubstrates 1321 to 1323 having different shapes will be described.

FIGS. 50A to 50C are diagrams schematically illustrating the layeredlens structure 1311 illustrated in FIG. 49 .

When the second lens attached substrate 1322 and the third lens attachedsubstrate 1323 having a different substrate thickness are disposed onthe upper and lower surfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321as in the layered lens structure 1311, the force of curving the layeredlens structure 1311 and the curved amount of the layered lens structure1311 are changed depending on the layer of the resin 1341 existing onthe entire contact surfaces of three lens attached substrates 1321 to1323 at any position of the layered lens structure 1311 in the thicknessdirection.

When the layers of the resin 1341 existing throughout the entire contactsurfaces of three lens attached substrates 1321 to 1323 are notsymmetrical to each other with respect to the line running in thesubstrate plane direction through the center line of the layered lensstructure 1311, that is, the center point of the layered lens structure1311 in the thickness direction, it is difficult to completely offsetthe action of the force generated by the curable shrinkage of the resin1341 disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first lens attachedsubstrate 1321 as illustrated in FIG. 48C. As a result, the layered lensstructure 1311 is curved in any direction.

For example, when two layers of the resin 1341 are cured and shrunk in acase where two layers of the resin 1341 of the upper and lower surfacesof the first lens attached substrate 1321 are deviated upward inrelation to the center line of the layered lens structure 1311 in thethickness direction, the layered lens structure 1311 is curved downwardin a convex shape as illustrated in FIG. 50C.

In addition, when the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole of thethinner substrate of the second lens attached substrate 1322 and thethird lens attached substrate 1323 increases in the direction of thefirst lens attached substrate 1321, a concern for the loss or the damageof the lens increases.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 49 , the cross-sectional shape of thethrough-hole of the second lens attached substrate 1322 having a smallerthickness of the second lens attached substrate 1322 and the third lensattached substrate 1323 is a downward widened shape which increases insize toward the direction of the first lens attached substrate 1321. Insuch a shape, when two layers of the resin 1341 of the upper and lowersurfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321 are cured and shrunk,a downward curving force in a convex shape is applied to the layeredlens structure 1311 as illustrated in FIG. 50C and hence this force isapplied to the second lens attached substrate 1322 as a force ofseparating the lens and the substrate from each other as illustrated inFIG. 50D. Due to this action, a concern for the loss or the damage ofthe lens 1332 of the second lens attached substrate 1322 increases.

Next, a case will be considered in which the resin is thermallyexpanded.

Comparative Structure Example 8

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view of a layered lens structure in whichthree lens attached substrates are laminated as an eighth substratestructure (hereinafter, referred to as Comparative Structure Example 8).In the layered lens structure, it is assumed that the layer and the areaof the light curable resin disposed on the upper and lower surfaces ofeach lens attached substrate are the same similarly to ComparativeStructure Example 6 illustrated in FIGS. 48A to 48C.

Comparative Structure Example 8 of FIG. 51 is different from ComparativeStructure Example 7 of FIG. 49 in that the cross-sectional shape of thethrough-hole of each of three lens attached substrates 1321 to 1323 is aso-called downward narrowed shape in which the lower surface of thesubstrate is narrower than the upper surface of the substrate.

FIGS. 52A to 52C are diagrams schematically illustrating the layeredlens structure 1311 illustrated in FIG. 51 .

When a user uses the camera module for an actual purpose, thetemperature inside the casing of the camera increases due to an increasein consuming power with the operation and hence the temperature of thecamera module increases. Due to an increase in temperature, the resin1341 disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first lens attachedsubstrate 1321 in the layered lens structure 1311 of FIG. 51 isthermally expanded.

When the layers of the resin 1341 existing throughout the entire contactsurfaces of three lens attached substrates 1321 to 1323 are not disposedso as to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the line travelingin the substrate plane direction while passing through the center lineof the layered lens structure 1311, that is, the center point of thelayered lens structure 1311 in the thickness direction even when thearea and the thickness of the resin 1341 disposed on the upper and lowersurfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321 are the same as inFIG. 48A, it is difficult to completely offset the action of the forcegenerated by the thermal expansion of the resin 1341 disposed on theupper and lower surfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321 asillustrated in FIG. 48C. As a result, the layered lens structure 1311 iscurved in any direction.

For example, when two layers of the resin 1341 are thermally expanded ina case where two layers of the resin 1341 of the upper and lowersurfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321 are disposed so as tobe deviated upward with respect to the center line of the layered lensstructure 1311 in the thickness direction, the layered lens structure1311 is curved upward in a convex shape as illustrated in FIG. 52C.

In addition, in the example illustrated in FIG. 51 , the cross-sectionalshape of the through-hole of the second lens attached substrate 1322having a smaller thickness of the second lens attached substrate 1322and the third lens attached substrate 1323 is a downward narrowed shapewhich decreases in size toward the direction of the first lens attachedsubstrate 1321. In such a shape, when two layers of the resin 1341 ofthe upper and lower surfaces of the first lens attached substrate 1321are thermally expanded, an upward curving force in a convex shape isapplied to the layered lens structure 1311 and this force is applied tothe second lens attached substrate 1322 in a direction so as to separatethe lens and the substrate from each other as illustrated in FIG. 52D.Due to this action, a concern for the loss or the damage of the lens1332 of the second lens attached substrate 1322 increases.

<Present Structure>

FIGS. 53A and 53B are diagrams illustrating a layered lens structure1371 including three lens attached substrates 1361 to 1363 employing thepresent structure.

FIG. 53A illustrates a structure corresponding to the layered lensstructure 1311 of FIG. 49 and illustrates a structure of which thecross-sectional shape of the through-hole is a so-called downwardwidened shape. Meanwhile, FIG. 53B illustrates a structure correspondingto the layered lens structure 1311 of FIG. 51 and illustrates astructure in which the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole is aso-called downward narrowed shape.

FIGS. 54A to 54C are schematic diagrams illustrating the layered lensstructure 1371 of FIGS. 53A and 53B used to describe the effect of thepresent structure.

The layered lens structure 1371 has a structure in which the second lensattached substrate 1362 is disposed at the upper side of the first lensattached substrate 1361 at the middle position and the third lensattached substrate 1363 is disposed at the lower side of the first lensattached substrate 1361.

The second lens attached substrate 1362 disposed at the uppermost layerand the third lens attached substrate 1363 disposed at the lowermostlayer have a different substrate thickness and a different lensthickness. More specifically, the lens thickness of the third lensattached substrate 1363 is larger than that of the second lens attachedsubstrate 1362 and hence the substrate thickness of the third lensattached substrate 1363 is also larger than that of the second lensattached substrate 1362.

In the layered lens structure 1371 of the present structure, a method ofdirectly bonding the substrates is used as a method of fixing the lensattached substrates to each other. In other words, a plasma activationprocess is performed on the lens attached substrates to be fixed and twolens attached substrates to be fixed to each other are subjected to theplasma bonding. In other words, a silicon oxide film is formed on eachof the surfaces of two laminated lens attached substrates, a hydroxylgroup is bound thereto, and hence two lens attached substrates arebonded to each other. Then, a dehydration condensation occurs with anincrease in temperature. In this way, two lens attached substrates aredirectly bonded to each other by silicon-oxygen covalent binding.

Thus, in the layered lens structure 1371 of the present structure, abonding method using resin is not used as a method of fixing the lensattached substrates to each other. For this reason, the lens formingresin or the substrate bonding resin is not disposed between the lensattached substrates. Further, since the resin is not disposed on theupper or lower surface of the lens attached substrate, the resin of theupper or lower surface of the lens attached substrate is not thermallyexpanded or cured and shrunk.

Thus, even when the second lens attached substrate 1362 and the thirdlens attached substrate 1363 having a different lens thickness and adifferent substrate thickness are disposed on the upper and lower layersof the first lens attached substrate 1351 in the layered lens structure1371, it is possible to prevent a problem in which the substrate iscurved due to the curable shrinkage and the substrate is curved due tothe thermal expansion similarly to Comparative Structure Examples 1 to8.

That is, the present structure in which the lens attached substrates aredirectly bonded to each other has an operation and effect in which thesubstrate curved state can be largely suppressed compared withComparative Structure Examples 1 to 8 even when the lens attachedsubstrates having a different lens thickness and a different substratethickness are laminated on the upper and lower sides.

16. Other Embodiment 1

<Wafer Level Lens>

Incidentally, as the wafer level lens of the related art, there is knowna hybrid type in which a lens is formed on a glass substrate or amonolithic type formed only by a resin material. On the contrary, PTL 1proposes a method of forming a lens in a through-hole of a siliconsubstrate. Further, there is also proposed a method of formingunevenness by performing blasting on the surface of the side wall of thethrough-hole as a countermeasure for the ghost or flare.

However, in the case of this method, there is a possibility that thereflection of the light of the side wall of the through-hole is notsufficiently suppressed only by the blasting. Thus, even when the methodof PTL 1 is used, there is a possibility that the ghost or flare is notsufficiently suppressed and the image quality is degraded.

Further, PTL 1 proposes a method of improving the lens holdingstability. Here, fine unevenness is formed on the side wall surface orthe cross-sectional shape of the opening is examined in a manner suchthat the contact area between the resin and the substrate is widened(other than a tapered shape). However, there is a case in which thecontactability is poor in accordance with the lens material and the basematerial. In this method, in some cases, it was difficult tosufficiently maintain the shape. Alternatively, there is a possibilitythat the option of the base material is limited by the lens material.

Further, in the case of this method, it is desirable to widen thecontact area between the substrate and the resin of the lens as much aspossible. For that reason, there is a possibility that the resinthickness increases so that the lens portion becomes thicker than thesubstrate. For that reason, there is a need to bond the substrates witha spacer substrate interposed therebetween in the case of the laminatedlens. Thus, the optical axis displacement in the lens module may becomeworse (so as to cause degradation in resolution) due to an increase inthe number of times of the bonding or the flare may become worse due toan increase in the size of the reflection surface.

Here, the lens attached substrate includes a substrate in which athrough-hole is formed and a light shielding film is formed on the sidewall of the through-hole and a lens resin portion which is formed insidethe through-hole of the substrate.

<Outline of Layered Lens Structure>

FIG. 55 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of the layered lens structure. A layered lensstructure 2012 illustrated in FIG. 55 corresponds to the layered lensstructure 11 of the other embodiment. That is, the layered lensstructure 2012 is the same device as the layered lens structure 11 andthe description of the layered lens structure 11 can be basicallyapplied to the layered lens structure 2012. For example, the layeredlens structure 2012 is laminated on the light receiving element 12 andis used to constitute the camera module 1. The incident light (forexample, the light from a subject) with respect to the light receivingelement 12 passes through the layered lens structure 2012 in a directionfrom the upside toward the downside of the drawing.

As illustrated in FIG. 55 , the layered lens structure 2012 includes alens attached substrate 2011A to a lens attached substrate 2011E whichare laminated one another. The lens attached substrate 2011A to the lensattached substrate 2011E respectively correspond to the lens attachedsubstrate 41 a to the lens attached substrate 41 e of the otherembodiment. In the description below, when there is no need todistinguish the lens attached substrate 2011A to the lens attachedsubstrate 2011E, these lens attached substrates will be referred to asthe lens attached substrate 2011. That is, the lens attached substrate2011 is the same device as the lens attached substrate 41 and thedescription of the lens attached substrate 2011 can be also basicallyapplied to the lens attached substrate 2011.

A light shielding film is formed on the side wall of the through-hole ofeach of the lens attached substrates 2011 of the layered lens structure2012 of FIG. 55 . The more detailed configuration of each lens attachedsubstrate 2011 is illustrated in FIGS. 56A to 56C and 57A and 57B.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate 2011A>

FIG. 56A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of the lens attached substrate 2011A. Asillustrated in FIG. 56A, the lens attached substrate 2011A includes acarrier substrate 2040A and a lens resin portion 2042A. The carriersubstrate 2040A corresponds to the carrier substrate 81 a of the otherembodiment. The lens resin portion 2042A corresponds to the lens resinportion 82 a of the other embodiment. A through-hole 2041A is formed inthe carrier substrate 2040A and the lens resin portion 2042A is formedinside the through-hole 2041A so as to contact a side wall 2051A of thethrough-hole 2041A.

The side wall 2051A of the through-hole 2041A is formed in a taperedshape which is widened from the light incident side (the upside of thedrawing) toward the light emitting side (the downside of the drawing). Alight shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall 2051A. The lightshielding film 2043 is used to absorb light and is a thin film which hasa light shielding property and is formed of a material of suppressingthe reflection of the light. The film thickness of the light shieldingfilm 2043 may be arbitrarily set, but may be, for example, about 1 μm.For example, the light shielding film 2043 is formed of a blackmaterial. The black material may be arbitrarily set, but may be, forexample, pigment of carbon black or titanium black. Further, the lightshielding film 2043 may be, for example, a metal film formed of metal.The metal may be arbitrarily set, but may be, for example, tungsten (W)or chrome (Cr). Further, the light shielding film 2043 may be a CVD filmwhich is formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). For example, thelight shielding film may be a CVD film which is formed by a carbonnanotube or the like. Further, a plurality of materials may belaminated.

A method of forming the light shielding film 2043 may be arbitrarilyset. For example, when a black material such as black pigment is used asthe material of the light shielding film 2043, the film may be formed byspinning or spray coating. If necessary, lithography of patterning andremoving a film may be performed. Further, the light shielding film 2043may be formed by an inkjet. Further, for example, when metal such astungsten (W) or chrome (Cr) is used as the material of the lightshielding film 2043, a film may be formed by a physical vapor deposition(PVD) and a surface thereof may be polished. In addition, for example,when a carbon nanotube or the like is used as the material of the lightshielding film 2043, a film may be formed by a CVD and a surface thereofmay be polished.

When such a light shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall 2051Aof the through-hole 2041A, it is possible to suppress the reflection orthe transmission of the light of the side wall 2051A and to suppress theghost or flare thereof. That is, it is possible to suppress degradationin image quality caused by the lens attached substrate 2011A (thelayered lens structure 2012).

Further, an adhesion promoting agent of improving the contactabilitybetween the side wall 2051A and the lens resin portion 2042A may beadded to the light shielding film 2043. The material of the adhesionpromoting agent may be arbitrarily set. For example, a material may beset in response to the (characteristic of) material of the lens resinportion 2042A. For example, when the lens resin portion 2042A is formedof a hydrophilic material (for example, a material having a large numberof OH groups), a hydrophilic material may be used as the adhesionpromoting agent to be added. Further, for example, when the lens resinportion 2042A is formed of a hydrophobic material, a hydrophobicmaterial may be also used as an adhesion promoting agent to be added.For example, a silane coupling agent may be used as the adhesionpromoting agent.

In this way, since the adhesion promoting agent is added to the materialof the light shielding film 2043, it is possible to improve thecontactability between the side wall 2051A and the lens resin portion2042A. Accordingly, since the holding stability of the lens resinportion 2042A is improved, it is possible to obtain sufficient stabilityeven when the contact area between the side wall 2051A and the lensresin portion 2042A is small. That is, it is possible to narrow(shorten) the “width of the contact portion between the side wall 2051A(the light shielding film 2043) and the lens resin portion 2042A”indicated by bidirectional arrows 2062A compared with the “length of theside wall 2051A (the width of the light shielding film 2043)” indicatedby bidirectional arrows 2061A. Thus, it is possible to suppress anincrease in the thickness of the lens resin portion 2042A and todecrease the thickness thereof so as to be smaller than, for example,the thickness of the carrier substrate 2040A. For that reason, the lensattached substrates 2011 can be laminated without a spacer substrateinterposed therebetween when the lens attached substrates 2011 arelaminated. Accordingly, since it is possible to suppress a problem inwhich the optical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to causedegradation in resolution) or the flare becomes worse, it is possible tosuppress degradation in image quality.

In addition, since the material of the adhesion promoting agent can beset in response to the material of the lens resin portion 2042A asdescribed above, it is possible to improve the contactability withrespect to the lens resin portion 2042A formed of more variousmaterials. Thus, it is possible to suppress the option of the materialof the carrier substrate 2040A from being limited by the material of thelens resin portion 2042A.

Further, in the case of the lens attached substrate 201 l A laminated atthe most light incident side as illustrated in FIG. 56A, the lightshielding film 2043 may be formed on a light incident surface (the uppersurface of the drawing) 2052A of the carrying portion 92 of the lensresin portion 2042A. The light shielding film 2043 serves as adiaphragm.

In addition, an upper surface layer 2044 may be formed on a lightincident surface 2053A of the lens portion 91 of the lens resin portion2042A. The upper surface layer 2044 corresponds to the upper surfacelayer 122 of the other embodiment. The upper surface layer 2044 isformed as, for example, a reflection preventing film or the like.

Further, a lower surface layer 2045 may be formed on a light emittingsurface (the lower surface of the drawing) 2054A of the lens resinportion 2042A. The lower surface layer 2045 corresponds to the lowersurface layer 123 of the other embodiment. The lower surface layer 2045is formed as, for example, a reflection preventing film or the like.

In addition, an upper surface layer 2044 may be formed on a lightincident surface 2055A of the carrier substrate 2040A. Further, a lowersurface layer 2045 may be formed on a light emitting surface 2056A ofthe carrier substrate 2040A.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate 2011B>

FIG. 56B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of the lens attached substrate 2011B. Theconfiguration of the lens attached substrate 2011B is basically similarto that of the lens attached substrate 2011A. As illustrated in FIG.56B, the lens attached substrate 2011B includes a carrier substrate2040B and a lens resin portion 2042B. The carrier substrate 2040Bcorresponds to the carrier substrate 81 b of the other embodiment. Thelens resin portion 2042B corresponds to the lens resin portion 82 b ofthe other embodiment. A through-hole 2041B is formed in the carriersubstrate 2040B and the lens resin portion 2042B is formed inside thethrough-hole 2041B so as to contact a side wall 2051B of thethrough-hole 2041B.

The side wall 2051B of the through-hole 2041B is formed in a taperedshape which is widened from the light incident side toward the lightemitting side. The light shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall2051B. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in imagequality caused by the lens attached substrate 2011B (the layered lensstructure 2012) similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate2011A.

Further, for example, an adhesion promoting agent such as a silanecoupling agent for improving the contactability between the side wall2051B and the lens resin portion 2042B may be added to the lightshielding film 2043 similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate2011A. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain sufficient stability evenwhen the contact area between the side wall 2051B and the lens resinportion 2042B is small similarly to the case of the lens attachedsubstrate 2011A. That is, it is possible to narrow (shorten) the “widthof the contact portion between the side wall 2051B (the light shieldingfilm 2043) and the lens resin portion 2042B” indicated by bidirectionalarrows 2062B compared with the “length of the side wall 2051B (the widthof the light shielding film 2043)” indicated by bidirectional arrows2061B. Thus, it is possible to suppress an increase in the thickness ofthe lens resin portion 2042B and to decrease the thickness thereof so asto be smaller than, for example, the thickness of the carrier substrate2040B. For that reason, since it is possible to suppress a problem inwhich the optical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to causedegradation in resolution) or the flare becomes worse in the layeredlens structure 2012, it is possible to suppress degradation in imagequality.

Then, since the material of the adhesion promoting agent can be set inresponse to the material of the lens resin portion 2042B similarly tothe case of the lens attached substrate 2011A, it is possible to improvethe contactability with respect to the lens resin portion 2042B formedof more various materials. Thus, it is possible to suppress the optionof the material of the carrier substrate 2040B from being limited by thematerial of the lens resin portion 2042B.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 56B, the upper surface layer 2044 may beformed on a light incident surface 2052B of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042B, a light incident surface 2053B of the lensportion 91 of the lens resin portion 2042B, and a light incident surface2055B of the carrier substrate 2040B.

In addition, the lower surface layer 2045 may be formed on a lightemitting surface 2054B of the lens resin portion 2042B and a lightemitting surface 2056B of the carrier substrate 2040B.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate 2011C>

FIG. 56C is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of a lens attached substrate 2011C. Theconfiguration of the lens attached substrate 2011C is basically similarto that of the lens attached substrate 2011A. As illustrated in FIG.56C, the lens attached substrate 2011C includes a carrier substrate2040C and a lens resin portion 2042C. The carrier substrate 2040Ccorresponds to the carrier substrate 81 c of the other embodiment. Thelens resin portion 2042C corresponds to the lens resin portion 82 c ofthe other embodiment. A through-hole 2041C is formed in the carriersubstrate 2040C and the lens resin portion 2042C is formed inside thethrough-hole 2041C so as to contact a side wall 2051C of thethrough-hole 2041C.

The side wall 2051C of the through-hole 2041C may be formed in a taperedshape which is widened from the light incident side toward the lightemitting side. The light shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall2051C. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in imagequality caused by the lens attached substrate 2011C (the layered lensstructure 2012) similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate2011A.

For example, an adhesion promoting agent such as a silane coupling agentfor improving the contactability between the side wall 2051C and thelens resin portion 2042C may be added to the light shielding film 2043similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. Accordingly,it is possible to obtain sufficient stability even when the contact areabetween the side wall 2051C and the lens resin portion 2042C is smallsimilarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. That is, itis possible to narrow (shorten) the “width of the contact portionbetween the side wall 2051C (the light shielding film 2043) and the lensresin portion 2042C” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2062C comparedwith the “length of the side wall 2051C (the width of the lightshielding film 2043)” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2061C. Thus, itis possible to suppress an increase in the thickness of the lens resinportion 2042C and to decrease the thickness thereof so as to be smallerthan, for example, the thickness of the carrier substrate 2040C. Forthat reason, since it is possible to suppress a problem in which theoptical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to cause degradation inresolution) or the flare becomes worse in the layered lens structure2012, it is possible to suppress degradation in image quality.

Then, since the material of the adhesion promoting agent can be set inresponse to the material of the lens resin portion 2042C similarly tothe case of the lens attached substrate 2011A, it is possible to improvethe contactability with respect to the lens resin portion 2042C formedof more various materials. Thus, it is possible to suppress the optionof the material of the carrier substrate 2040C from being limited by thematerial of the lens resin portion 2042C.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 56C, the upper surface layer 2044 may beformed on a light incident surface 2052C of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042C, a light incident surface 2053C of the lensportion 91 of the lens resin portion 2042C, and a light incident surface2055C of the carrier substrate 2040C.

In addition, the lower surface layer 2045 may be formed on a lightemitting surface 2054C of the lens resin portion 2042C and a lightemitting surface 2056C of the carrier substrate 2040C.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate 2011D>

FIG. 57A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of a lens attached substrate 2011D. Theconfiguration of the lens attached substrate 2011D is basically similarto that of the lens attached substrate 2011A. As illustrated in FIG.57A, the lens attached substrate 2011D includes a carrier substrate2040D and a lens resin portion 2042D. The carrier substrate 2040Dcorresponds to the carrier substrate 81 d of the other embodiment. Thelens resin portion 2042D corresponds to the lens resin portion 82 d ofthe other embodiment. A through-hole 2041D is formed in the carriersubstrate 2040D and the lens resin portion 2042D is formed inside thethrough-hole 2041D so as to contact a side wall 2051D of thethrough-hole 2041D.

The side wall 2051D of the through-hole 2041D is formed in a taperedshape which is widened from the light incident side toward the lightemitting side. The light shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall2051D. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in imagequality caused by the lens attached substrate 2011D (the layered lensstructure 2012) similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate2011A.

For example, an adhesion promoting agent such as a silane coupling agentfor improving the contactability between the side wall 2051D and thelens resin portion 2042D may be added to the light shielding film 2043similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. Accordingly,it is possible to obtain sufficient stability even when the contact areabetween the side wall 2051D and the lens resin portion 2042D is smallsimilarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. That is, itis possible to narrow (shorten) the “width of the contact portionbetween the side wall 2051D (the light shielding film 2043) and the lensresin portion 2042D” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2062D comparedwith the “length of the side wall 2051D (the width of the lightshielding film 2043)” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2061D. Thus, itis possible to suppress an increase in the thickness of the lens resinportion 2042D and to decrease the thickness thereof so as to be smallerthan, for example, the thickness of the carrier substrate 2040D. Forthat reason, since it is possible to suppress a problem in which theoptical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to cause degradation inresolution) or the flare becomes worse in the layered lens structure2012, it is possible to suppress degradation in image quality.

Then, since the material of the adhesion promoting agent can be set inresponse to the material of the lens resin portion 2042D similarly tothe case of the lens attached substrate 2011A, it is possible to improvethe contactability with respect to the lens resin portion 2042D formedof more various materials. Thus, it is possible to suppress the optionof the material of the carrier substrate 2040D from being limited by thematerial of the lens resin portion 2042D.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 57A, the upper surface layer 2044 may beformed on a light incident surface 2052D of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042D, a light incident surface 2053D of the lensportion 91 of the lens resin portion 2042D, and a light incident surface2055D of the carrier substrate 2040D.

In addition, the lower surface layer 2045 may be formed on a lightemitting surface 2054D of the lens resin portion 2042D and a lightemitting surface 2056D of the carrier substrate 2040D.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate 2011E>

FIG. 57B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of a lens attached substrate 2011E. Theconfiguration of the lens attached substrate 2011E is basically similarto that of the lens attached substrate 2011A. As illustrated in FIG.57B, the lens attached substrate 2011E includes a carrier substrate2040E and a lens resin portion 2042E. The carrier substrate 2040Ecorresponds to the carrier substrate 81 e of the other embodiment. Thelens resin portion 2042E corresponds to the lens resin portion 82 e ofthe other embodiment. A through-hole 2041E is formed in the carriersubstrate 2040E and the lens resin portion 2042E is formed inside thethrough-hole 2041E so as to contact a side wall 2051E of thethrough-hole 2041E.

The side wall 2051E of the through-hole 2041E is formed in a taperedshape which is widened from the light incident side toward the lightemitting side. The light shielding film 2043 is formed on the side wall2051E. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in imagequality caused by the lens attached substrate 2011E (the layered lensstructure 2012) similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate2011A.

For example, an adhesion promoting agent such as a silane coupling agentfor improving the contactability between the side wall 2051E and thelens resin portion 2042E may be added to the light shielding film 2043similarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. Accordingly,it is possible to obtain sufficient stability even when the contact areabetween the side wall 2051E and the lens resin portion 2042E is smallsimilarly to the case of the lens attached substrate 2011A. That is, itis possible to narrow (shorten) the “width of the contact portionbetween the side wall 2051E (the light shielding film 2043) and the lensresin portion 2042E” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2062E comparedwith the “length of the side wall 2051E (the width of the lightshielding film 2043)” indicated by bidirectional arrows 2061E. Thus, itis possible to suppress an increase in the thickness of the lens resinportion 2042E and to decrease the thickness thereof so as to be smallerthan, for example, the thickness of the carrier substrate 2040E. Forthat reason, since it is possible to suppress a problem in which theoptical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to cause degradation inresolution) or the flare becomes worse in the layered lens structure2012, it is possible to suppress degradation in image quality.

Then, since the material of the adhesion promoting agent can be set inresponse to the material of the lens resin portion 2042E similarly tothe case of the lens attached substrate 2011A, it is possible to improvethe contactability with respect to the lens resin portion 2042E formedof more various materials. Thus, it is possible to suppress the optionof the material of the carrier substrate 2040E from being limited by thematerial of the lens resin portion 2042E.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 57B, the upper surface layer 2044 may beformed on a light incident surface 2052E of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042E, a light incident surface 2053E of the lensportion 91 of the lens resin portion 2042E, and a light incident surface2055E of the carrier substrate 2040E.

In addition, the lower surface layer 2045 may be formed on a lightemitting surface 2054E of the lens resin portion 2042E and a lightemitting surface 2056E of the carrier substrate 2040E.

In the description below, when there is no need to distinguish thecarrier substrate 2040A to the carrier substrate 2040E, the carriersubstrates will be referred to as the carrier substrate 2040. Further,when there is no need to distinguish the through-hole 2041A to thethrough-hole 2041E, the through-holes will be referred to as thethrough-hole 2041. In addition, when there is no need to distinguish thelens resin portion 2042A to the lens resin portion 2042E, the lens resinportions will be referred to as the lens resin portion 2042. Further,when there is no need to distinguish the side wall 2051A to the sidewall 2051E, the side walls will be referred to as the side wall 2051.Furthermore, when there is no need to distinguish the light incidentsurface 2052A to the light incident surface 2052E, the light incidentsurfaces will be referred to as the light incident surface 2052.Further, when there is no need to distinguish the light incident surface2053A to the light incident surface 2053E, the light incident surfaceswill be referred to as the light incident surface 2053. When there is noneed to distinguish the light emitting surface 2054A to the lightemitting surface 2054E, the light emitting surfaces will be referred toas the light emitting surface 2054. Further, when there is no need todistinguish the light incident surface 2055A to the light incidentsurface 2055E, the light incident surfaces will be referred to as thelight incident surface 2055. When there is no need to distinguish thelight emitting surface 2056A to the light emitting surface 2056E, thelight emitting surfaces will be referred to as the light emittingsurface 2056. Further, when there is no need to distinguishbidirectional arrows 2061A to bidirectional arrows 2061E, bidirectionalarrows will be referred to as bidirectional arrows 2061. When there isno need to distinguish bidirectional arrows 2062A to bidirectionalarrows 2062E, bidirectional arrows will be referred to as bidirectionalarrows 2062.

<Configuration of Layered Lens Structure>

The lens attached substrates 2011A to the lens attached substrate 2011Ewith the above-described configuration are laminated and bonded so as toform the layered lens structure 2012 of FIG. 55 . A method of bondingthe lens attached substrates 2011 to each other is arbitrarily set. Forexample, the lens attached substrates 2011 may be bonded to each otherby plasma bonding and the lens attached substrates 2011 may be bonded toeach other by an adhesive.

When the lens attached substrate 2011 having the configurationillustrated in FIGS. 56A to 56C and 57A and 57B is used, the layeredlens structure 2012 can obtain the same effect as the lens attachedsubstrate 2011.

For example, since the layered lens structure 2012 can suppress theoccurrence of the reflection of the light inside the through-hole 2041,it is possible to sufficiently suppress the occurrence of the ghost orflare and hence to suppress degradation in image quality. Further, forexample, the layered lens structure 2012 can improve the holdingstability of the lens resin portion 2042. In addition, since the lensattached substrates can be bonded to each other without using a spacersubstrate or the like, it is possible to suppress a problem in which theoptical axis displacement becomes worse (so as to cause degradation inresolution) or the flare becomes worse and hence to suppress degradationin image quality. Further, more various materials can be used as thecarrier substrate 204 or the lens resin portion 2042.

In addition, the number (the number of layers) of the lens attachedsubstrates 2011 constituting the layered lens structure 2012 may bearbitrarily set. Further, only a part of the lens attached substrates2011 constituting the layered lens structure 2012 may have theconfiguration described by referring to FIGS. 56A to 56C or 57A and 57B.That is, the layered lens structure may be obtained by laminating aplurality of lens attached substrates with a lens attached substrateincluding a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a lightshielding film is formed on a side wall of the through-hole and a lensresin portion which is formed inside the through-hole of the substrate.

<Example of Shape of Side Wall>

In addition, since it is possible to improve the holding stability ofthe lens resin portion 2042, the lens attached substrate 2011 (thelayered lens structure 2012) can form the side wall 2051 as a shapeother than the tapered shape.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 58 , the side wall 2051 of thethrough-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate 2011 may be formed inan inverse tapered shape which is widened from the light emitting sidetoward the light incident side. Further, for example, as illustrated inFIG. 59 , the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 of each lensattached substrate 2011 may be formed in a perpendicular shape which isperpendicular from the light emitting side to the light incident side.

Further, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 60 , the side wall 2051 ofthe through-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate 2011 may be formedin a double tapered shape which is widened from the center portion ofthe through-hole 2041 toward both the light emitting side and the lightincident side. In this way, when the shape of the side wall 2051 is setto the double tapered shape, it is possible to more easily form thelight shielding film 2043. Further, in this case, since the contactportion between the side wall 2051 and the lens resin portion 2042 has aprotrusion shape, it is possible to improve the holding stability of thelens resin portion 2042. Further, in this case, since the through-hole2041 is formed while both surfaces of the carrier substrate 2040 areetched, it is possible to shorten the etching time compared with thecase where the side wall 2051 has the other shape.

Further, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 61 , the side wall 2051 ofthe through-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate 2011 may be formedin a step shape in which a step is formed in the course of thethrough-hole 2041.

Of course, the shape of the side wall 2051 may be arbitrarily set and isnot limited to these examples. For example, as illustrated in a dottedcircle 2071 to a dotted circle 2074 of FIG. 62 , a space used as a spacefor retracting the extra material (resin) of the lens resin portion 2042formed when the lens resin portion 2042 is molded may be provided in theside wall 2051. The space has an arbitrary shape. Further, the space maybe provided in all lens attached substrates 2011 constituting thelayered lens structure 2012 or only a part of the lens attachedsubstrates 2011.

The method (and the material) of forming the light shielding film 2043may be selected in response to the shape of the side wall 2051. Forexample, for example, when the side wall 2051 is formed in aperpendicular shape, it is difficult to apply resist in spinning orspray coating. For this reason, CVD may be employed.

Further, for example, the layered lens structure 2012 may have the lensattached substrate 2011 in which the side wall 2051 has a differentshape. That is, the side walls 2051 may not have the same shape in alllens attached substrates 2011 constituting the layered lens structure2012. For example, the lens attached substrate 2011 with the taperedside wall 2051 and the lens attached substrate with the inverse taperedside wall 2051 may be laminated.

<Configuration of Camera Module>

The camera module 1 may include the layered lens structure 2012 with theabove-described configuration. That is, the camera module may beobtained by laminating a layered lens structure, obtained by laminatinga plurality of lens attached substrates with a lens attached substrateincluding a substrate having a through-hole formed therein and a lightshielding film formed on a side wall of the through-hole and a lensresin portion formed inside the through-hole of the substrate, and asensor substrate in which an optical sensor is formed on a substrate.

With such a configuration, the camera module 1 can obtain the sameeffect as the lens attached substrate 2011 or the layered lens structure2012.

In addition, an example has been described in which one optical unit 13is provided, but the present technology can be applied to a case where aplurality of the optical units 13 is provided.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

Next, the manufacturing of the lens attached substrate 2011 will bedescribed. FIG. 63 is a block diagram illustrating a main configurationexample of a manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a lens attachedsubstrate as an embodiment of a manufacturing apparatus employing thepresent technology. A manufacturing apparatus 2100 illustrated in FIG.63 includes a control unit 2101 and a lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2102.

The control unit 2101 includes, for example, a central processing unit(CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM) andcontrols the components of the lens attached substrate manufacturingunit 2102 while performing a control process involved with themanufacturing of the lens attached substrate. For example, the CPU ofthe control unit 2101 performs various processes according to a programstored on the ROM. Further, the CPU performs various processes accordingto the program loaded from a storage unit 2113 onto the RAM. The RAMappropriately stores data necessary for performing various processes bythe CPU.

The lens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2102 is controlled by thecontrol unit 2101 and performs a process involved with the manufacturingof the lens attached substrate. The lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2102 includes a carrier substrate processing unit2131, a lens forming unit 2132, a surface layer film forming unit 2133,and a light shielding film forming unit 2134.

The carrier substrate processing unit 2131 performs a process involvedwith the processing of the carrier substrate 2040. The lens forming unit2132 performs a process involved with the forming of the lens resinportion 2042. The surface layer film forming unit 2133 performs aprocess involved with the forming of the upper surface layer 2044 or thelower surface layer 2045. The light shielding film forming unit 2134performs a process involved with the forming of the light shielding film2043. These process units are controlled by the control unit 2101 so asto perform the processes thereof.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2100 includes an input unit 2111,an output unit 2112, a storage unit 2113, a communication unit 2114, anda drive 2115.

The input unit 2111 is configured as, for example, a keyboard, a mouse,a touch panel, or an external input terminal and is used to receive aninput of external information or a command of a user and to supply theinput to the control unit 2101. The output unit 2112 is configured as,for example, a display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, or aliquid crystal display (LCD), a speaker, or an external output terminaland is used to output various information supplied from the control unit2101 as an image, a voice, an analog signal, or a digital data.

The storage unit 2113 includes, for example, an arbitrary storage mediumsuch as a flash memory, a solid state drive (SSD), and a hard disk andis used to store information supplied from the control unit 2101 orsupply the stored information by reading the stored information inaccordance with the request from the control unit 2101. Thecommunication unit 2114 is configured as, for example, an interface suchas a wired local area network (LAN) and a wireless LAN or a modem and isused to perform a communication process with an external device througha network including the Internet. For example, the communication unit2114 transmits information supplied from the control unit 2101 to acommunication opponent or supplies information received from acommunication opponent to the control unit 2101.

The drive 2115 is connected to a control unit 401 if necessary. Then,for example, a removable medium 2121 such as a magnetic disk, an opticaldisc, an optical magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory isappropriately installed in the drive 2115. Then, a computer programwhich is read from the removable medium 2121 through the drive 2115 isinstalled in the storage unit 2113 if necessary.

FIG. 64 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofthe carrier substrate processing unit 2131. As illustrated in FIG. 64 ,the carrier substrate processing unit 2131 includes a hard mask filmforming unit 2151, a hard mask processing unit 2152, a through-holeforming unit 2153, and a light shielding film forming unit 2154.

The hard mask film forming unit 2151 performs a process involved withthe forming of the hard mask. The hard mask processing unit 2152performs a process involved with the processing of the hard mask. Thethrough-hole forming unit 2153 performs a process involved with theforming of the through-hole. The light shielding film forming unit 2154performs a process involved with the forming of the light shieldingfilm. These process units are controlled by the control unit 2101 so asto perform the processes thereof.

The manufacturing apparatus 2100 with the above-described configurationmanufactures a lens attached substrate by performing a lens attachedsubstrate manufacturing process. An example of the procedure of the lensattached substrate manufacturing process will be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 65 . If necessary, a description willbe made with reference to FIGS. 66A and 66B.

When the lens attached substrate manufacturing process is started, instep S2001, the carrier substrate processing unit 2131 performs athrough-hole light shielding film forming process, forms thethrough-hole 2041 in an undivided carrier substrate 2161 supplied fromthe outside of the manufacturing apparatus 2100, and forms the lightshielding film 2043 on the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041. Thedetailed description of this process will be made later.

The subsequent processes are basically performed in the same way as theabove-described method of referring to FIGS. 23A to 23G of “10. LensAttached Substrate Manufacturing Method”.

In step S2002, the lens forming unit 2132 disposes the carrier substrate2161 on the lower die 181. In step S2003, the lens forming unit 2132charges, for example, the energy curable resin 191 as the material ofthe lens resin portion 2042 to the through-hole 2041 formed in thecarrier substrate 2161. In step S2004, the lens forming unit 2132disposes the upper die 201 on the carrier substrate 2161. In step S2005,the lens forming unit 2132 cures the energy curable resin 191. In stepS2006, the lens forming unit 2132 separates the upper die 201 and thelower die 181 from the carrier substrate 2161.

For example, the lens forming unit 2132 may form the lens resin portion2042 so that the width of the contact portion between the side wall 2051(the light shielding film 2043) and the lens resin portion 2042 becomesnarrower (shorter) than the length of the side wall 2051 (the width ofthe light shielding film 2043).

In step S2007, the surface layer film forming unit 2133 forms the uppersurface layer 2044 on the light incident surface of the carriersubstrate 2161 and the lens resin portion 2042 formed in the carriersubstrate 2161 and forms the lower surface layer 2045 on the lightemitting surface similarly to the example illustrated in FIG. 66A. Theupper surface layer 2044 and the lower surface layer 2045 are formed ofoxides, for example, SiOx, nitrides, for example, SiNx, or otherinsulation materials, for example,divinyltetramethylsiloxane-bisbenzocyclobutene (DVS-bisBCB).

In step S2008, when the lens attached substrate 2011 is manufactured soas to be laminated at the most light incident side of the layered lensstructure 2012, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms thelight shielding film 2043 on the light incident surface 2052 of thecarrying portion 92 of the lens resin portion 2042 similarly to theexample illustrated in FIG. 66B. When the lens attached substrate 2011used as the other layer of the layered lens structure 2012 ismanufactured, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 does notperform this process.

When the process of step S2008 is ended, the lens attached substratemanufacturing process is ended. When the lens attached substratemanufactured in this way is divided, the lens attached substrate 2011 ismanufactured.

Next, an example of a sequence of the through-hole light shielding filmforming process performed in step S2001 of FIG. 65 will be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 67 . If necessary, a descriptionwill be made with reference to FIGS. 68A to 68E.

When the through-hole light shielding film forming process is started,in step S2021, the hard mask film forming unit 2151 forms a hard mask2171 on the undivided carrier substrate 2161 illustrated in FIG. 68A asin FIG. 68B. The hard mask 2171 corresponds to the hard mask 242 of theother embodiment. In step S2022, the hard mask processing unit 2152removes the hard mask 2171 of a predetermined portion 2172 by processingthe hard mask 2171 as in FIG. 68C.

In step S2023, the through-hole forming unit 2153 forms the through-hole2041 in the predetermined portion 2172 from which the hard mask 2171 isremoved so that the side wall 2051 is formed in a predetermined shape(for example, a tapered shape or the like) by performing wet etching onthe carrier substrate 2161 having the hard mask 2171 formed thereon.When the through-hole 2041 is formed, the through-hole forming unit 2153removes the hard mask 2171 as in FIG. 68D.

In step S2024, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 forms thelight shielding film 2043 described with reference to FIGS. 56A to 56Cor 57A and 57B on the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 as in FIG.68E.

For example, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 may form thelight shielding film 2043 by using a black material. Further, the lightshielding film forming unit 2154 may use, for example, a pigment ofcarbon black or titanium black as the black material. Further, forexample, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 may form the lightshielding film 2043 by using a metal film. The light shielding filmforming unit 2154 may use, for example, tungsten (W) or chrome (Cr) asthe metal film. For example, the light shielding film forming unit 2154may form the light shielding film 2043 by using a CVD film. The lightshielding film forming unit 2154 may use, for example, a carbon nanotubeas the CVD film.

Further, for example, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 mayform the light shielding film 2043 by using an adhesion promoting agentfor improving the contactability between the lens resin portion 2042 andthe side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041. The light shielding filmforming unit 2154 may use, for example, a silane coupling agent as theadhesion promoting agent.

When the process of step S2024 is ended, the through-hole lightshielding film forming process is ended and the process is returned toFIG. 65 .

When the lens attached substrate is manufactured as described above, thelens attached substrate having the above-described effect can bemanufactured.

<Other Example of Carrier Substrate Processing>

In addition, the method of processing the carrier substrate 2161 is notlimited to the above-described example. For example, when the carriersubstrate 2161 is processed, the other substrate (the support substrate)may be bonded to the carrier substrate 2161.

FIG. 69 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example ofthe carrier substrate processing unit 2131 in that case. As illustratedin FIG. 69 , the carrier substrate processing unit 2131 in this caseincludes a support substrate bonding unit 2181 and a support substrateseparating unit 2182 in addition to the configuration (the hard maskfilm forming unit 2151 to the light shielding film forming unit 2154)illustrated in FIG. 64 .

The support substrate bonding unit 2181 performs a process involved withthe bonding of the support substrate and the carrier substrate. Thesupport substrate separating unit 2182 performs a process involved withthe separating of the support substrate and the carrier substrate.

An example of a sequence of a through-hole light shielding film formingprocess performed in step S2001 of FIG. 65 in this case will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 70 . If necessary, adescription will be made with reference to FIGS. 71A to 71F.

As illustrated in FIG. 71A, an etching stop film 2192 is formed on asurface of a support substrate 2191 used in this case. When thethrough-hole light shielding film forming process is started, in stepS2041, the support substrate bonding unit 2181 laminates and bonds theundivided carrier substrate 2161 on the surface of the support substrate2191 provided with the etching stop film 2192. The bonding method may bearbitrarily set. For example, the support substrate bonding unit 2181may bond the carrier substrate 2161 and the support substrate 2191 toeach other by plasma bonding or an adhesive. As will be described later,in order to separate the support substrate 2191 from the carriersubstrate 2161 later, the support substrate bonding unit 2181 may bondthe carrier substrate 2161 and the support substrate 2191 to each otherby an easily separating method.

In step S2042, the hard mask film forming unit 2151 forms the hard mask2171 on the layered substrate in which the carrier substrate 2161 andthe support substrate 2191 are laminated as in FIG. 71B. In step S2043,the hard mask processing unit 2152 removes the hard mask 2171 of thepredetermined portion 2172 by processing the hard mask 2171 as in FIG.71C.

In step S2044, the through-hole forming unit 2153 forms the through-hole2041 in the predetermined portion 2172 from which the hard mask 2171 ofthe carrier substrate 2161 is removed so that the side wall 2051 isformed in a predetermined shape (for example, a tapered shape or thelike) by performing wet etching on the layered substrate having the hardmask 2171 formed thereon. Since the etching stop film 2192 is formedbetween the carrier substrate 2161 and the support substrate 2191, onlythe carrier substrate 2161 is etched. When the through-hole 2041 isformed, the through-hole forming unit 2153 removes the hard mask 2171from the layered substrate as in FIG. 71D.

In step S2045, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 forms thelight shielding film 2043 described above with reference to FIGS. 56A to56C or 57A and 57B on the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 as inFIG. 71E. That is, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 forms thelight shielding film 2043 as in the case described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 67 .

In step S2046, the support substrate separating unit 2182 separates thesupport substrate 2191 (and the etching stop film 2192) from the carriersubstrate 2161.

When the process of step S2046 is ended, the through-hole lightshielding film forming process is ended and the process is returned toFIG. 65 .

When the lens attached substrate is manufactured as described above, itis possible to manufacture the lens attached substrate capable ofobtaining the above-described effect.

<Manufacturing of Layered Lens Structure>

Next, the manufacturing of the layered lens structure 2012 will bedescribed. FIG. 72 is a block diagram illustrating a main configurationexample of a manufacturing apparatus manufacturing a layered lensstructure as an embodiment of a manufacturing apparatus employing thepresent technology. A manufacturing apparatus 2200 illustrated in FIG.72 includes a control unit 2201 and a layered lens structuremanufacturing unit 2202.

The control unit 2201 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM andcontrols the components of the layered lens structure manufacturing unit2202 while performing a control process involved with the manufacturingof the layered lens structure. For example, the CPU of the control unit2201 performs various processes in accordance with a program stored onthe ROM. Further, the CPU performs various processes in accordance witha program loaded from the storage unit 2213 onto the RAM. The RAMappropriately stores data necessary for performing various processes bythe CPU.

The layered lens structure manufacturing unit 2202 is controlled by thecontrol unit 2201 and performs a process involved with the manufacturingof the layered lens structure. The layered lens structure manufacturingunit 2202 includes a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2231 anda lens attached substrate bonding unit 2232.

The lens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2231 performs a processinvolved with the manufacturing of the lens attached substrate. The lensattached substrate manufacturing unit 2231 has the same function as thelens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2102 (FIG. 63 ) of themanufacturing apparatus 2100. That is, the lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2231 includes the process units of the carriersubstrate processing unit 2131 to the light shielding film forming unit2134 and performs the same process as the lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2102.

The lens attached substrate bonding unit 2232 performs a process ofbonding the lens attached substrates to each other. The lens attachedsubstrate manufacturing unit 2231 and the lens attached substratebonding unit 2232 are controlled by the control unit 2201 so as toperform the processes thereof.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2200 includes an input unit 2211,an output unit 2212, a storage unit 2213, a communication unit 2214, anda drive 2215. A removable medium 2221 is appropriately mounted onto thedrive 2215. The input unit 2211 to the drive 2215 are the same processunits as the input unit 2111 to the drive 2115 of the manufacturingapparatus 2100 of FIG. 63 and have the same functions. Further, theremovable medium 2221 is the same storage medium as the removable medium2121 and stores a computer program and the like.

The manufacturing apparatus 2200 with the above-described configurationmanufactures a layered lens structure by performing a layered lensstructure manufacturing process. An example of a sequence of the layeredlens structure manufacturing process will be described with reference tothe flowchart of FIG. 73 .

When the layered lens structure manufacturing process is started, thelens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2231 manufactures the lensattached substrate as described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 71Ato 71F in step S2061. In step S2062, the lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2231 determines whether all lens attached substratesconstituting the layered lens structure are manufactured and repeats theprocess of step S2061 until all lens attached substrates aremanufactured. That is, the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit2231 manufactures all lens attached substrates constituting the layeredlens structure by repeating the lens attached substrate manufacturingprocess (FIG. 65 ).

When all lens attached substrates are manufactured, the process proceedsto step S2063. In step S2063, the lens attached substrate bonding unit2232 laminates and bonds the lens attached substrates manufactured bythe lens attached substrate manufacturing unit 2231. The bonding methodmay be arbitrarily set. For example, the lens attached substrate bondingunit 2232 may bond the lens attached substrates to each other by plasmabonding or may bond the lens attached substrates to each other by usingan adhesive.

When the process of step S2063 is ended, the layered lens structuremanufacturing process is ended. When the manufactured layered lensstructure is divided in this way, the layered lens structure 2012 ismanufactured.

When the layered lens structure is manufactured in this way, it ispossible to manufacture the layered lens structure capable of obtainingthe above-described effect.

<Manufacturing of Camera Module>

Next, the manufacturing of the camera module 1 will be described. FIG.74 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of amanufacturing apparatus that manufactures the camera module 1 as anembodiment of the manufacturing apparatus of the present technology. Amanufacturing apparatus 2300 illustrated in FIG. 74 includes a controlunit 2301 and a camera module manufacturing unit 2302.

The control unit 2301 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM andcontrols the components of the camera module manufacturing unit 2302while performing a control process involved with the manufacturing ofthe camera module 1. For example, the CPU of the control unit 2301performs various processes in accordance with a program stored on theROM. Further, the CPU performs various processes in accordance with aprogram loaded from the storage unit 2313 onto the RAM. The RAMappropriately stores data necessary for performing various processes bythe CPU.

The camera module manufacturing unit 2302 is controlled by the controlunit 2301 so as to perform a process involved with the manufacturing ofthe camera module 1. The camera module manufacturing unit 2302 includesa layered lens structure manufacturing unit 2331, a sensor substratemanufacturing unit 2332, a bonding unit 2333, a dividing unit 2334, anda module unit 2335.

The layered lens structure manufacturing unit 2331 performs a processinvolved with the manufacturing of the layered lens structure. Thelayered lens structure manufacturing unit 2331 has the same function asthe layered lens structure manufacturing unit 2202 (FIG. 72 ) of themanufacturing apparatus 2200. That is, the layered lens structuremanufacturing unit 2331 includes the lens attached substratemanufacturing unit 2231 and the lens attached substrate bonding unit2232 and performs the same process as the layered lens structuremanufacturing unit 2202.

The sensor substrate manufacturing unit 2332 performs a process involvedwith the manufacturing of the sensor substrate 43W. The bonding unit2333 performs a process involved with the bonding of the layered lensstructure and the sensor substrate. The dividing unit 2334 performs aprocess involved with the dividing of the layered substrate obtained bybonding the layered lens structure and the sensor substrate to eachother. The module unit 2335 performs a process involved with the moduleof the divided layered substrate. These process units are controlled bythe control unit 2301 so as to perform the processes thereof.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2300 includes an input unit 2311,an output unit 2312, a storage unit 2313, a communication unit 2314, anda drive 2315. A removable medium 2321 is appropriately mounted onto thedrive 2315. The input unit 2311 to the drive 2315 are the same processunits as the input unit 2111 to the drive 2115 of the manufacturingapparatus 2100 of FIG. 63 and have the same functions. Further, theremovable medium 2321 is the same storage medium as the removable medium2121 and stores a computer program and the like.

When the manufacturing apparatus 2300 with the above-describedconfiguration performs a camera module manufacturing process, the cameramodule 1 is manufactured. An example of a sequence of the camera modulemanufacturing process will be described with reference to the flowchartof FIG. 75 .

When the camera module manufacturing process is started, the layeredlens structure manufacturing unit 2331 manufactures the layered lensstructure as described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 73 in stepS2081. In step S2082, the sensor substrate manufacturing unit 2332manufactures the sensor substrate 43W provided with a sensor such as alight receiving element. For example, the configuration of the sensorlike the sensor formed on the sensor substrate 43W may be arbitrarilyset. Further, the method of manufacturing the sensor substrate 43W maybe also arbitrarily set.

In step S2083, the bonding unit 2333 bonds the manufactured layered lensstructure and the sensor substrate 43W to each other. The bonding methodmay be arbitrarily set. For example, the bonding unit 2333 may bond thelayered lens structure and the sensor substrate 43W to each other byplasma bonding or may bond the layered lens structure and the sensorsubstrate 43W to each other by using an adhesive.

In step S2084, the dividing unit 2334 divides the layered substrateobtained by laminating and bonding the layered lens structure and thesensor substrate 43W.

In step S2085, the module unit 2335 makes the module of the dividedlayered substrate by providing the diaphragm plate 51 or the lens barrel74 in, for example, the divided layered substrate so as to manufacturethe camera module 1. A process involved with the module may bearbitrarily set.

When the process of step S2085 is ended, the camera module manufacturingprocess is ended.

When the camera module 1 is manufactured as described above, it ispossible to manufacture the camera module 1 capable of obtaining theabove-described effect.

17. Other Embodiment 2

<Wafer Level Lens>

Incidentally, as described above, in a method of blasting the surface ofthe side wall of the through-hole as in PTL 1, there is a possibilitythat the reflection of the light of the side wall of the through-hole isnot sufficiently suppressed. Even when the method of PTL 1 is used,there is a possibility that the occurrence of the ghost or flare is notsufficiently suppressed and the image quality is degraded.

Here, the lens attached substrate includes a substrate in which athrough-hole is formed and a light shielding film is formed on a lightincident surface or a light emitting surface and a lens resin portionwhich is formed inside the through-hole of the substrate.

<Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate>

FIG. 76 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mainconfiguration example of the layered lens structure 2012 in this case.As illustrated in FIG. 76 , in this case, the light shielding film 2043is formed on the entire surface of the light incident surface 2055A ofthe carrier substrate 2040A of the lens attached substrate 2011A.Further, the light shielding film 2043 is also formed on the entiresurface of the light emitting surface 2056A. The lens attached substrate2011B to the lens attached substrate 2011E also have the sameconfiguration. That is, the light shielding film 2043 is formed on theentire surfaces of the light incident surface 2055 and the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 in the lens attachedsubstrate 2011.

The material of the light shielding film 2043 may be set as describedabove. Further, the film thickness of the light shielding film 2043 maybe arbitrarily set. For example, 1 μm or so is desirable.

Since the light shielding film 2043 is formed in this way, it ispossible to suppress the reflection or the transmission of the light inthis portion and to suppress the occurrence of the ghost or flare.Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in image qualitycaused by the lens attached substrate 2011 (the layered lens structure2012).

For example, when the material of the carrier substrate 2040 is quartz,light is transmitted therethrough. For that reason, the ghost or flareoccurs easily while the light passes through the carrier substrate 2040.On the contrary, as described above, when the light shielding film 2043is formed on the entire surfaces of the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040, the lensattached substrate 2011 can suppress the occurrence of the ghost orflare by suppressing the reflection or the transmission of the light andhence suppress degradation in image quality.

For example, in the case of FIG. 76 , in a state where the lens attachedsubstrates 2011 are laminated as in the layered lens structure 2012, thethrough-holes 2041 of the lens attached substrates 2011 forming theoptical unit 13 are connected so that one through-hole 2401 is formedfrom the light incident surface of the layered lens structure 2012 (thatis, the light incident surface of the lens attached substrate 2011A) tothe light emitting surface (that is, the light emitting surface of thelens attached substrate 2011E). The light receiving element of thesensor substrate receives the incident light emitted from a subject andpassing through the through-hole 2401 of the layered lens structure2012.

In such a lamination state, one of or both the light incident surface2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040of the lens attached substrate 2011 are exposed to the through-hole 2401in accordance with the shape of the through-hole 2041 of the lensattached substrate 2011 (the shape of the side wall 2051). For example,in the case of FIG. 76 , the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 ofeach lens attached substrate 2011 is formed in an inverse tapered shape.For that reason, a part of the light emitting surface 2056 of thecarrier substrate 2040 of each lens attached substrate 2011 is exposedto the through-hole 2401.

As described above, when the light shielding film 2043 is formed on theentire surfaces of the light incident surface 2055 and the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040, the light shieldingfilm 2043 is formed on a portion exposed to the through-hole 2401 of thelight emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 in each lensattached substrate 2011. Thus, the lens attached substrate 2011 cansuppress the reflection or the transmission of the light passing throughthe through-hole 2401 in a lamination state. That is, it is possible tosuppress degradation in image quality.

In the case of the example of FIG. 76 , the light shielding film 2043 isalso formed on the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 of each lensattached substrate 2011. Thus, the lens attached substrate 2011 canfurther suppress the reflection or the transmission of the light passingthrough the through-hole 2401 in the lamination state. That is, it ispossible to further suppress degradation in image quality by furthersuppressing the occurrence of the ghost or flare.

In addition, the light shielding film may be formed on the front surfaceof only one of the light incident surface 2055 and the light emittingsurface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040. A state where the lightincident surface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040 is exposed to thethrough-hole 2401 or the light emitting surface 2056 of the carriersubstrate 2040 is exposed to the through-hole 2401 while the pluralityof lens attached substrates is laminated is dependent on the shape ofthe side wall 2051 or the size of the through-hole 2041 of each lensattached substrate. The light shielding film 2043 may be formed on asurface in which at least a part of the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 is exposedto the through-hole 2401.

In addition, the light shielding film 2043 may be formed on the entiresurface of one of or both the light incident surface 2055 and the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 only in a part ofthe lens attached substrate 2011 in the plurality of laminated lensattached substrates 2011.

Further, at least two kinds or more of the lens attached substrates 2011may be mixed and laminated among the lens attached substrate 2011 inwhich the light shielding film 2043 is formed on the light incidentsurface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040, the lens attached substrate2011 in which the light shielding film 2043 is formed on the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040, the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 in which the light shielding film 2043 is formed on boththe light incident surface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 ofthe carrier substrate 2040, and the lens attached substrate 2011 inwhich the light shielding film 2043 is not formed on both the lightincident surface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 of the carriersubstrate 2040. That is, a surface provided with the light shieldingfilm 2043 may not be uniform in the plurality of laminated lens attachedsubstrates 2011.

However, in general, it is possible to further suppress the reflectionor the transmission of the light as the range of the light shieldingfilm 2043 is widened. Further, it is possible to further suppress thereflection or the transmission of the light as the number of the lightshielding films 2043 increases.

<Configuration of Layered Lens Structure>

As illustrated in FIG. 76 , the layered lens structure 2012 can beobtained by laminating the plurality of lens attached substrates 2011including the lens attached substrate 2011 with such a configuration.With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect asthe lens attached substrate 2011 and hence to suppress degradation inimage quality.

<Configuration of Camera Module>

Further, the camera module 1 can be obtained by laminating the layeredlens structure 2012 obtained by laminating the plurality of lensattached substrates 2011 including the lens attached substrate 2011 withsuch a configuration and the sensor substrate. With such aconfiguration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 and hence to suppress degradation in imagequality.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

When the lens attached substrate 2011 in such a case is manufactured,the manufacturing apparatus 2100 (FIGS. 63, 64, and 69 ) may perform thelight shielding film forming process of step S2008 as below when thelens attached substrate manufacturing process (FIG. 65 ) is performed.

An example of a sequence of the light shielding film forming processperformed by the manufacturing apparatus 2100 in step S2008 of this casewill be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 77 .

When the light shielding film forming process is started, in step S2101,the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms the light shieldingfilm on the light incident surface 2052 of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042. In addition, this process may be performedonly when the lens attached substrate 2011 laminated at the most lightincident side is manufactured and may be omitted when the other lensattached substrate is manufactured.

In step S2102, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms thelight shielding film 2043 on the entire surface of the light incidentsurface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2161. When the process of stepS2101 is performed, the process of step S2101 and the process of stepS2102 may be performed as one process.

In step S2103, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms thelight shielding film 2043 on the entire surface of the light emittingsurface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2161.

When the light shielding film 2043 is formed on the entire surfaces ofthe light incident surface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 ofthe carrier substrate 2161, the light shielding film forming process isended. With such a configuration, it is possible to manufacture the lensattached substrate capable of obtaining the above-described effect.

In addition, when the light shielding film 2043 is not formed on thelight incident surface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2161, the lightshielding film forming unit 2134 may not perform the process of stepS2102. Further, when the light shielding film 2043 is not formed on thelight emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2161, the lightshielding film forming unit 2134 may not perform the process of stepS2103.

<Manufacturing of Layered Lens Structure>

The manufacturing apparatus 2200 (FIG. 72 ) can manufacture the layeredlens structure 2012 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in thisway similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, thedescription will be omitted.

<Manufacturing of Camera Module>

The manufacturing apparatus 2300 (FIG. 74 ) can manufacture the cameramodule 1 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in image quality) byusing the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in this waysimilarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, the descriptionwill be omitted.

<Other Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate>

In addition, in the lens attached substrate 2011, the light shieldingfilm 2043 may be formed on a portion exposed to the through-hole 2401 inone of or both the light incident surface 2055 and the light emittingsurface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 while the plurality of lensattached substrates is laminated.

In other words, in the lens attached substrate 2011, the light shieldingfilm 2043 may not be formed on a portion not exposed to the through-hole2401 in one of or both the light incident surface 2055 and the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 while the pluralityof lens attached substrates is laminated.

For example, when the material of the carrier substrate 2040 is silicon,the light is not transmitted therethrough. For this reason, the lightshielding film 2043 of a portion not exposed to the through-hole 2401 isnot necessary and can be omitted. With such a configuration, it ispossible to suppress the influence of the light shielding film 2043 whenthe lens attached substrates 2011 are bonded to each other by plasmabonding and hence to suppress degradation in bonding strength.

Then, even in the lens attached substrate 2011 of this case, it ispossible to suppress the reflection or the transmission in a portion (aportion exposed to the through-hole 2401 of one of or both the lightincident surface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 of the carriersubstrate 2040 while the plurality of lens attached substrates islaminated) with respect to the light passing through the through-hole2401 in the lamination state similarly to the case (the case of theexample of FIG. 76 ) where the light shielding film 2043 is formed onthe entire surface of one of or both the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040. That is,it is possible to suppress degradation in image quality.

For example, in the case of FIG. 78 , the side wall 2051 of thethrough-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate 2011 is formed in aninverse tapered shape. Thus, in this case, a part (a portion surroundedby a dotted circle 2402) of the light emitting surface 2056 of thecarrier substrate 2040 of each lens attached substrate 2011 is exposedto the through-hole 2401 while the plurality of lens attached substratesis laminated and the light shielding film 2043 is formed on thisportion. Then, the light shielding film 2043 is not formed on the lightincident surface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040 of each lensattached substrate 2011 or a portion (a portion contacting the otherlens attached substrate 2011) not exposed to the through-hole 2401 inthe light emitting surface 2056.

With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress degradation in thebonding strength between the lens attached substrates 2011 by the lightshielding film 2043 and to suppress the reflection or the transmissionof the light passing through the through-hole 2401 in a part (a portionsurrounded by a dotted circle 2402) of the light emitting surface 2056of the carrier substrate 2040 of each lens attached substrate 2011.Thus, it is possible to suppress degradation in image quality.

In addition, even in this case, the light shielding film 2043 may beformed on the light incident surface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040of the lens attached substrate 2011 laminated at the most light incidentside and the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040of the lens attached substrate 2011 laminated at the most light emittingside while the plurality of lens attached substrates 2011 is laminatedas in the layered lens structure 2012. For example, even when thematerial of the carrier substrate 2040 is silicon through which thelight is not transmitted, there is a possibility that the lightreflected by the surface may reach the light receiving element and hencethe image quality may be degraded. With such a configuration, it ispossible to suppress the unnecessary reflection of the light and tosuppress degradation in image quality.

Further, even in the lens attached substrate 2011 of this case, thelight shielding film 2043 may be also formed on the side wall 2051 ofthe through-hole 2041 similarly to the case (the case of the example ofFIG. 76 ) where the light shielding film 2043 is formed on one of orboth the light incident surface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056of the carrier substrate 2040. With such a configuration, the lensattached substrate 2011 can further suppress the reflection or thetransmission of the light passing through the through-hole 2401 in thelamination state. That is, it is possible to further suppress theoccurrence of the ghost or flare and hence to further suppressdegradation in image quality.

In addition, a state where the light incident surface 2055 of thecarrier substrate 2040 is exposed to the through-hole 2401 or the lightemitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 is exposed to thethrough-hole 2401 while the plurality of lens attached substrates islaminated is dependent on the shape of the side wall 2051 or the size ofthe through-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate. Thus, a portionon which the light shielding film 2043 is formed is determined inresponse to the shape of the side wall 2051 or the size of thethrough-hole 2041 of each lens attached substrate.

In addition, the light shielding film 2043 may be formed on a part ofthe plurality of laminated lens attached substrates 2011 as describedabove. Further, in the plurality of laminated lens attached substrates2011, a surface or a portion provided with the light shielding film 2043may not be uniform.

However, in general, it is possible to further suppress the reflectionor the transmission of the light as the range of the light shieldingfilm 2043 is widened. Further, it is possible to further suppress thereflection or the transmission of the light as the number of the lightshielding films 2043 increases.

<Configuration of Layered Lens Structure>

As illustrated in FIG. 78 , the layered lens structure 2012 can beobtained by laminating the plurality of lens attached substrates 2011including the lens attached substrate 2011 with such a configuration.With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect asthe lens attached substrate 2011 and hence to suppress degradation inimage quality.

<Configuration of Camera Module>

Further, the camera module 1 can be obtained by laminating the layeredlens structure 2012 obtained by laminating the plurality of lensattached substrates 2011 including the lens attached substrate 2011 withsuch a configuration and a sensor substrate. With such a configuration,it is possible to obtain the same effect as the lens attached substrate2011 and hence to suppress degradation in image quality.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

When the lens attached substrate 2011 in such a case is manufactured,the manufacturing apparatus 2100 (FIGS. 63, 64, and 69 ) may perform thelight shielding film forming process of step S2008 as below when thelens attached substrate manufacturing process (FIG. 65 ) is performed.

An example of a sequence of the light shielding film forming processperformed by the manufacturing apparatus 2100 in step S2008 of this casewill be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 79 .

When the light shielding film forming process is started, in step S2121,the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms the light shieldingfilm on the light incident surface 2052 of the carrying portion 92 ofthe lens resin portion 2042. Further, this process may be performed onlywhen the lens attached substrate 2011 laminated at the most lightincident side is manufactured and may be omitted when the other lensattached substrate is manufactured.

In step S2122, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms thelight shielding film 2043 on a portion exposed to the through-hole 2401in the light incident surface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2161. When aportion exposed to the light incident surface 2055 does not exist, thisprocess is omitted. Further, when both the process of step S2121 and theprocess of step S2122 are performed, the process of step S2121 and theprocess of step S2102 may be performed as one process.

In step S2123, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 forms thelight shielding film 2043 on a portion exposed to the through-hole 2401in the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2161.Further, when a portion exposed to the light emitting surface 2056 doesnot exist, this process is omitted.

When the light shielding film 2043 is formed on a portion exposed to thethrough-hole 2401 of one of or both the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2161, the lightshielding film forming process is ended. With such a configuration, itis possible to manufacture the lens attached substrate capable ofobtaining the above-described effect.

<Manufacturing of Layered Lens Structure>

The manufacturing apparatus 2200 (FIG. 72 ) can manufacture the layeredlens structure 2012 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in thisway similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, thedescription will be omitted.

<Manufacturing of Camera Module>

The manufacturing apparatus 2300 (FIG. 74 ) can manufacture the cameramodule 1 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in image quality) byusing the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in this waysimilarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, the descriptionwill be omitted.

<Other Configuration of Lens Attached Substrate>

In addition, when the light shielding film 2043 is formed on a portionexposed to the through-hole 2401 of one of or both the light incidentsurface 2055 and the light emitting surface 2056 of the carriersubstrate 2040 while the plurality of lens attached substrates islaminated in the lens attached substrate 2011, the light incidentsurface 2055 or the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate2040 may be provided with a step higher than the film thickness of thelight shielding film 2043 by a portion exposed to the through-hole 2401and a portion not exposed to the through-hole 2401.

FIG. 80 is an enlarged view illustrating an example in which a portionsurrounded by the dotted circle 2402 of FIG. 78 is formed in this way.

In the case of the example of FIG. 80 , a part (a ranged indicated bybidirectional arrows 2411) of the light emitting surface 2056 of thecarrier substrate 2040A is exposed to the through-hole 2401 and theother portion (a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2412) is bondedto the carrier substrate 2040B (so as not to be exposed to thethrough-hole 2401). Further, the light shielding film 2043 is formed ona portion (a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2411) exposed tothe through-hole 2401.

Then, a portion (a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2411) exposedto the through-hole 2401 in the light emitting surface 2056 of thecarrier substrate 2040A is cut so as to be lower than the other portion(a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2412) (the upside of thedrawing). That is, a step is formed by a portion (a range indicated bybidirectional arrows 2411) exposed to the through-hole 2401 and theother portion (a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2412).

Then, the height of the step indicated by bidirectional arrows 2421 ishigher than the film thickness of the light shielding film 2043indicated by bidirectional arrows 2422.

With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the lightshielding film 2043 from being formed on a portion (a range indicated bybidirectional arrows 2412) not exposed to the through-hole 2401 when thelight shielding film 2043 is formed on the light emitting surface 2056of the carrier substrate 2040A. That is, it is possible to more easilyform the light shielding film 2043 only on a portion (a range indicatedby bidirectional arrows 2411) exposed to the through-hole 2401.Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation in the bondingstrength between the lens attached substrates 2011 when the lightshielding film 2043 is formed on the bonding surface between the lensattached substrates.

Further, when the height of the step is set to be higher than the filmthickness of the light shielding film 2043, the light shielding film2043 does not protrude from a portion (a range indicated bybidirectional arrows 2412) not exposed to the through-hole 2401 of thelight emitting surface 2056 (where the light shielding film 2043 doesnot protrude toward the downside of the drawing). For that reason, it ispossible to suppress the light shielding film 2043 from contacting aninstallation bed during the transportation in the manufacturing step ofthe lens attached substrate 2011. Thus, it is possible to suppress theloss of the light shielding film 2043.

In addition, in the description above, a case has been described inwhich the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 isexposed to the through-hole 2401. However, when the light incidentsurface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040 is exposed to thethrough-hole 2401, the light incident surface 2055 may be provided withthe same step. Similarly, when both the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 areexposed to the through-hole 2401, the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 may be provided with the same step.

<Configuration of Layered Lens Structure>

The layered lens structure 2012 can be obtained by laminating theplurality of lens attached substrates 2011 including the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 with such a configuration. With such a configuration, itis possible to obtain the same effect as the lens attached substrate2011 and hence to suppress degradation in image quality.

<Configuration of Camera Module>

Further, the camera module 1 can be obtained by laminating the layeredlens structure 2012 obtained by laminating the plurality of lensattached substrates 2011 including the lens attached substrate 2011 withsuch a configuration and a sensor substrate. With such a configuration,it is possible to obtain the same effect as the lens attached substrate2011 and hence to suppress degradation in image quality.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

When the lens attached substrate 2011 is manufactured in which a portion(a range indicated by bidirectional arrows 2411) exposed to thethrough-hole 2401 in the light emitting surface 2056 of the carriersubstrate 2040A, the manufacturing apparatus 2100 (FIGS. 63, 64, and 69) may perform the through-hole forming process of step S2023 or stepS2044 as below when the through-hole light shielding film formingprocess (FIGS. 67 and 70 ) is performed.

An example of a sequence of the through-hole forming process performedby the manufacturing apparatus 2100 in step S2023 or step S2044 of thiscase will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 81 .

When the through-hole forming process is started, the through-holeforming unit 2153 forms a through-hole in the carrier substrate 2161 byetching or the like in step S2141. In step S2142, the through-holeforming unit 2153 processes the light emitting surface 2056 of thecarrier substrate 2161 and cuts a portion exposed to the through-hole2401 in the periphery of the through-hole 2041 while the plurality oflens attached substrates is laminated so as to form a step with respectto the other portion.

When the process of step S2142 is ended, the through-hole formingprocess is ended. With such a configuration, it is possible tomanufacture the lens attached substrate capable of obtaining theabove-described effect.

In addition, in the description above, a case has been described inwhich the light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 isexposed to the through-hole 2401. However, when the light incidentsurface 2055 of the carrier substrate 2040 is exposed to thethrough-hole 2401, the light incident surface 2055 may be provided withthe same step. Similarly, when both the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 of the carrier substrate 2040 areexposed to the through-hole 2401, the light incident surface 2055 andthe light emitting surface 2056 may be provided with the same step.

<Manufacturing of Layered Lens Structure>

The manufacturing apparatus 2200 (FIG. 72 ) can manufacture the layeredlens structure 2012 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in thisway similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, thedescription will be omitted.

<Manufacturing of Camera Module>

The manufacturing apparatus 2300 (FIG. 74 ) can manufacture the cameramodule 1 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in image quality) byusing the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 in this waysimilarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”. Thus, the descriptionwill be omitted.

<Forming of Light Shielding Film>

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 82A, when the light shielding film 2043is formed on the carrier substrate 2040 (the carrier substrate 2161),the surface of the light shielding film 2043 may be formed as a roughsurface (with unevenness) instead of a plane illustrated in the exampleof FIG. 82A.

In this way, when the surface of the light shielding film 2043 is formedas the rough surface, the lens attached substrate 2011 can diffuse thereflected light on the surface of the light shielding film 2043 andhence can suppress the occurrence of the ghost or flare. That is, it ispossible to suppress degradation in image quality.

Further, when the surface of the light shielding film 2043 is formed asthe rough surface, the surface area of the light shielding film 2043increases. Thus, when the surface of the light shielding film 2043formed on the side wall 2051 is formed as the rough surface, it ispossible to improve the bonding strength with respect to the lens resinportion 2042 and to improve the holding stability of the lens resinportion 2042. When the lens attached substrates 2011 are bonded to eachother by an adhesive, the bonding strength can be improved in a mannersuch that the light shielding film 2043 formed on the bonding surface isformed as the rough surface.

A method of forming the surface of the light shielding film 2043 as therough surface may be arbitrarily set. For example, the surface of thelight shielding film 2043 may be formed as the rough surface in a mannersuch that the light shielding film 2043 is formed on the surface (forexample, the side wall 2051, the light incident surface 2055, the lightemitting surface 2056, or the like) as the rough surface of the carriersubstrate 2040 as in FIG. 82B. For example, the light shielding filmforming unit 2134 (FIG. 63 ) or the light shielding film forming unit2154 (FIGS. 64 and 69 ) may perform a process including etching ormoth-eye processing on a portion provided with the light shielding film2043 on the surface of the carrier substrate 2161 so as to form thesurface as the rough surface and may form the light shielding film 2043on the rough surface portion.

Further, for example, the surface of the formed light shielding film2043 may be processed as the rough surface as in FIG. 82C. For example,the light shielding film forming unit 2134 or the light shielding filmforming unit 2154 may form the light shielding film 2043 on the surfaceof the carrier substrate 2040 and may process the surface of the formedlight shielding film 2043 by etching or the like so that the surfacebecomes the rough surface.

In addition, the surface of the light shielding film 2043 may be formedas the rough surface by the aggregation of the material of the lightshielding film 2043. For example, the light shielding film forming unit2134 or the light shielding film forming unit 2154 may form the lightshielding film 2043 on the surface of the carrier substrate 2040 byusing an aggregated material and may form unevenness on the surface ofthe light shielding film 2043 by the aggregation of the material.

Further, the surface of the light shielding film 2043 may be formed asthe rough surface by a solid element included in the material of thelight shielding film 2043. For example, the light shielding film formingunit 2134 or the light shielding film forming unit 2154 may form thelight shielding film 2043 on the surface of the carrier substrate 2040by using a material including a solid element and may form unevenness onthe surface of the light shielding film 2043 by the solid element.

In addition, these examples may be combined with each other. Forexample, as in FIG. 82D, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 orthe light shielding film forming unit 2154 may form the light shieldingfilm 2043 on the surface of the carrier substrate 2040 as the roughsurface and may further process the surface of the light shielding film2043 so as to further roughen the surface. Further, for example, thelight shielding film forming unit 2134 or the light shielding filmforming unit 2154 may form the light shielding film 2043 on the surfaceof the carrier substrate 2040 as the rough surface by using anaggregated material and may further form unevenness on the surface ofthe light shielding film 2043 by the aggregation of the material. Forexample, the light shielding film forming unit 2134 or the lightshielding film forming unit 2154 may form the light shielding film 2043on the surface of the carrier substrate 2040 as the rough surface byusing a material including a solid element and may further formunevenness on the surface of the light shielding film 2043 by the solidelement.

18. Other Embodiment 3

<Light Shielding Film of Side Wall>

Incidentally, an example of the through-hole light shielding filmforming process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 69will be described again with reference to FIGS. 83A to 83D.

In the layered substrate in which the carrier substrate 2161 is bondedto a surface provided with the etching stop film 2192 of the supportsubstrate 2191, the through-hole 2041 is formed in the carrier substrate2161 by performing alkali etching as in FIG. 83A after the hard mask2171 is formed and processed.

Then, as in FIG. 83B, the light shielding film 2043 is formed on thelayered substrate provided with the through-hole 2041. When the hardmask 2171 or the light shielding film 2043 formed on the hard mask 2171is not necessary, the hard mask or the light shielding film may beremoved. Further, the hard mask 2171 may be removed before the lightshielding film 2043 is formed.

Then, the support substrate separating unit 2182 separates the supportsubstrate 2191 or the etching stop film 2192 from the carrier substrate2161. At that time, for example, as in FIG. 83C, there is a case inwhich the etching stop film 2192 is still bonded to the carriersubstrate 2161 after the separation in the boundary surface between theetching stop film 2192 and the support substrate 2191.

Originally, the light shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion (insidethe dotted circle 2431 of FIG. 83C) of the through-hole 2041 is notnecessary and hence is separated from the carrier substrate 2161 alongwith the etching stop film 2192 when the support substrate 2191 isseparated.

However, when the etching stop film 2192 is not separated from thecarrier substrate 2161 as described above, there is a possibility thatthe light shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of the through-hole2041 may be also left along with the etching stop film 2192.

Further, as in FIG. 83D, even when the etching stop film 2192 isseparated successfully due to the separation in the boundary facebetween the carrier substrate 2161 and the etching stop film 2192 whenthe support substrate 2191 is separated, there is a possibility that apart of the light shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of thethrough-hole 2041 may be left in the carrier substrate 2161 due to aso-called “tearing-off state” in the light shielding film 2043 of thebottom portion of the through-hole 2041 as indicated by a dotted circle2432 and a dotted circle 2433.

In addition, there is a possibility that a part of the light shieldingfilm 2043 of the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 may beseparated from the carrier substrate 2161 along with the light shieldingfilm 2043 of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041 due to aso-called “taking-away state” as indicated by a dotted circle 2434.

In addition, when the through-hole is formed in an inverse tapered shapeas in the example of FIGS. 83A to 83D, an acute shape is formed in thelight emitting side end of the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041.For that reason, the possibility of chipping (fragment) in this portionis higher than the other portion during the transportation or thesubsequent processes.

Accordingly, there is a possibility that the forming accuracy of thelight shielding film 2043 or the side wall 2051 in the periphery of thebottom portion of the through-hole 2041 may be degraded. Then, since theforming accuracy decreases, there is a possibility that the yield of thelens attached substrate 2011 may decrease.

Here, the lens attached substrate may include a substrate in which athrough-hole is formed and a notch shape (a recess) is formed in a lightemitting side end of the side wall of the through-hole and a lens resinportion which is formed inside the through-hole of the substrate.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

Even in this case, the lens attached substrate 2011 can be manufacturedby the manufacturing apparatus 2100. A main configuration example of thecarrier substrate processing unit 2131 in this case is illustrated inFIG. 84 . As illustrated in FIG. 84 , in this case, the carriersubstrate processing unit 2131 further includes a notch shape formingunit 2451 and a hard mask etching stop film removing unit 2452 otherthan the hard mask film forming unit 2151 to the light shielding filmforming unit 2154, the support substrate bonding unit 2181, and thesupport substrate separating unit 2182.

The notch shape forming unit 2451 performs a process involved with theforming of the notch shape. Further, the hard mask etching stop filmremoving unit 2452 performs a process involved with the removing of thehard mask or the etching stop film.

The process units perform the processes controlled by the control unit2101.

An example of a sequence of the through-hole light shielding filmforming process in this case will be described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 85 . If necessary, a description will be made withreference to FIGS. 86A to 85C and 87A to 87C.

When the through-hole light shielding film forming process is started,in step S2161, the support substrate bonding unit 2181 laminates andbonds the undivided carrier substrate 2161 to a surface provided withthe etching stop film 2192 in the support substrate 2191. The bondingmethod may be arbitrarily set. For example, the support substratebonding unit 2181 may bond the carrier substrate 2161 and the supportsubstrate 2191 to each other by plasma bonding or an adhesive. As willbe described later, in order to separate the support substrate 2191 fromthe carrier substrate 2161 later, the support substrate bonding unit2181 may bond the carrier substrate 2161 and the support substrate 2191to each other by an easily separating method.

In addition, the etching stop film 2192 is formed of, for example,nitride silicon (SiN) and is formed on the support substrate 2091 by,for example, low-pressure CVD or the like.

In step S2162, the hard mask film forming unit 2151 forms the hard mask2171 on the layered substrate obtained by laminating the carriersubstrate 2161 and the support substrate 2191. The hard mask 2171 isformed of, for example, nitride silicon (SiN) and is formed on thelayered substrate by, for example, low-pressure CVD.

In step S2163, the hard mask processing unit 2152 processes the hardmask 2171 and removes the hard mask 2171 of the predetermined portion2172.

In step S2164, as illustrated in FIG. 86A, the through-hole forming unit2153 performs alkali etching on the layered substrate having the hardmask 2171 so as to obtain a surface (111) and forms the through-hole2041 in the predetermined portion 2172 from which the hard mask 2171 ofthe carrier substrate 2161 is removed. Accordingly, the side wall 2051is formed so as to have, for example, an angle of about 54° to 55°.Further, the through-hole forming unit 2153 may form the through-hole2041 by dry etching.

In step S2165, the notch shape forming unit 2451 performs dry etching onthe through-hole 2041 as illustrated in FIG. 86B so as to form a notchshape (a recess) in the vicinity (in other words, the side wall 2051 inthe periphery of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041) of thelight emitting side end of the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041.

When dry etching is further performed on the through-hole 2041 of whichthe side wall 2051 is formed in an inverse tapered shape, the inclinedsurface of the side wall 2051 becomes deeper on the whole. On thecontrary, the plasma moving target does not exist due to the etchingstop film 2192 in the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041 and hencethe side wall 2051 is cut in the horizontal direction so as to be formedin a notch shape. The size of the notch shape may be arbitrarily set.For example, when the thickness of the carrier substrate 2161 is about200 μm to 725 μm, the size of the notch shape may be set to about 1 μm.

In step S2166, the hard mask etching stop film removing unit 2452removes the unnecessary hard mask 2171 as illustrated in FIG. 86C.Further, the hard mask etching stop film removing unit 2452 removes theetching stop film 2192 in the vicinity of the bottom portion of thethrough-hole 2041. At that time, the hard mask etching stop filmremoving unit 2452 performs side etching so as to remove the etchingstop film 2192 in a range wider than the bottom portion of thethrough-hole 2041.

When the notch shape is formed in this way, the light emitting side endof the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041 is not formed in an acuteshape as illustrated in a dotted circle 2461 of FIG. 86C. For thatreason, the occurrence of the above-described chipping can besuppressed.

In step S2167, the light shielding film forming unit 2154 forms thelight shielding film 2043 as in FIG. 87A. As illustrated in FIG. 87A,since the notch-shaped portion of the side wall 2051 is a surfaceinclined by a minus degree (a surface facing the downside of thedrawing), the light shielding film 2043 is not formed. That is, thelight shielding film 2043 is formed on a portion other than thenotch-shaped portion of the side wall 2051 of the through-hole 2041.

At this time, as illustrated in a dotted circle 2462 of FIG. 87A, aso-called “cutting” occurs between the light shielding film 2043 formedon the side wall 2051 and the light shielding film 2043 formed on thebottom portion (that is, the support substrate 2191) of the through-hole2041 so that the light shielding films are separated from each other.

In step S2168, the support substrate separating unit 2182 separates thesupport substrate 2191 from the carrier substrate 2161. As describedabove, since the “cutting” occurs in the light shielding film 2043, itis possible to suppress the occurrence of “tearing-off” or “taking-away”even when a separation occurs in the boundary face between the supportsubstrate 2191 and the etching stop film 2192 as in the example of FIG.87B.

Further, even when a separation occurs in the boundary face between thecarrier substrate 2161 and the etching stop film 2192 as in the exampleof FIG. 87C, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of “tearing-off”or “taking-away” in the same way.

When the process of step S2168 is ended, the through-hole lightshielding film forming process is ended and the process is returned toFIG. 65 .

As described above, since the notch shape is formed in the side wall2051 in the periphery of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041, itis possible to suppress the occurrence of “chipping”, “tearing-off”, and“taking-away”. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the formingaccuracy of the light shielding film 2043 or the side wall 2051 in theperiphery of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041. Accordingly,it is possible to suppress a decrease in yield of the lens attachedsubstrate 2011.

<Layered Lens Structure>

When the plurality of lens attached substrates 2011 including the lensattached substrate 2011 with such a configuration is laminated, thelayered lens structure 2012 can obtain the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 and hence suppress degradation in image quality.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2200 (FIG. 72 ) can manufacture thelayered lens structure 2012 capable of obtaining the same effect as thelens attached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 asdescribed above similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”.

<Camera Module>

Further, when the layered lens structure 2012 obtained by laminating theplurality of lens attached substrates 2011 including the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 with such a configuration and a sensor substrate arelaminated, the camera module 1 can obtain the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 and hence suppress degradation in image quality.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2300 (FIG. 74 ) can manufacture thecamera module 1 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 asdescribed above similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”.

19. Other Embodiment 4

<Method of Removing Light Shielding Film of Through-hole Bottom Portion>

In addition, as another method of removing the light shielding film 2043of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041, for example, a methodmay be used in which the transparent support substrate allowing thetransmission of the light is bonded to the carrier substrate 2161 and UVlight is emitted from the transparent support substrate toward the lightshielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041 so asto remove the light shielding film.

<Manufacturing of Lens Attached Substrate>

Even in this case, the lens attached substrate 2011 can be manufacturedby the manufacturing apparatus 2100. A main configuration example of thecarrier substrate processing unit 2131 in this case is illustrated inFIG. 88 . As illustrated in FIG. 88 , in this case, the carriersubstrate processing unit 2131 further includes a transparent supportsubstrate bonding unit 2501, a light shielding film removing unit 2502,a hard mask removing unit 2503, and a transparent support substrateseparating unit 2504 other than the hard mask film forming unit 2151 tothe light shielding film forming unit 2154.

The transparent support substrate bonding unit 2501 performs a processinvolved with the bonding of the transparent support substrate and thecarrier substrate. The light shielding film removing unit 2502 performsa process involved with the removing of the light shielding film 2043formed on the bottom portion of the through-hole. The hard mask removingunit 2503 performs a process involved with the removing of the hard mask2171. The transparent support substrate separating unit 2504 performs aprocess involved with the separating of the transparent supportsubstrate from the carrier substrate.

The process units perform the processes controlled by the control unit2101.

An example of the through-hole light shielding film forming process inthis case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 89 .If necessary, a description will be made with reference to FIGS. 90A to90C and 91A to 91C.

When the through-hole light shielding film forming process is started,in step S2181, the transparent support substrate bonding unit 2501laminates and bonds the undivided carrier substrate 2161 onto a surfaceprovided with the etching stop film 2192 in the transparent supportsubstrate 2511 (FIG. 90A). The bonding method may be arbitrarily set.For example, the transparent support substrate bonding unit 2501 maybond the carrier substrate 2161 and the transparent support substrate2511 by plasma bonding or an adhesive. As will be described later, inorder to separate the transparent support substrate 2511 from thecarrier substrate 2161 later, the transparent support substrate bondingunit 2501 may bond the carrier substrate 2161 and the transparentsupport substrate 2511 to each other by an easily separating method.

In addition, in this case, the carrier substrate 2161 is formed of amaterial that does not allow the transmission of UV light. For example,the carrier substrate 2161 is formed by using silicon.

In step S2182, the hard mask film forming unit 2151 forms the hard mask2171 on the layered substrate obtained by laminating the carriersubstrate 2161 and the transparent support substrate 2511 (FIG. 90A). Instep S2183, the hard mask processing unit 2152 processes the hard mask2171 and removes the hard mask 2171 of the predetermined portion. Instep S2184, as illustrated in FIG. 90A, the through-hole forming unit2153 forms the through-hole 2041 in a portion from which the hard mask2171 is removed in the carrier substrate 2161. In step S2185, the lightshielding film forming unit 2154 forms the light shielding film 2043 asin FIG. 90B.

In step S2186, the light shielding film removing unit 2502 emits the UVlight 2512 from the rear surface (the lower side of FIGS. 90A to 90C) ofthe transparent support substrate 2511 as in FIG. 90C. That is, thelight shielding film removing unit 2502 irradiates the light shieldingfilm 2043 formed on the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041 with theUV light 2512 through the transparent support substrate 2511. When theUV light is emitted, the light shielding film 2043 is deteriorated dueto the UV light 2512 and hence is easily dissolved by a solvent.

The light shielding film removing unit 2502 causes a predeterminedsolvent to flow into the through-hole 2041 after the irradiation withthe UV light 2512. The light shielding film 2043 of the bottom portionof the through-hole 2041 is removed while being dissolved by thesolvent. On the contrary, since the carrier substrate 2161 does notallow the transmission of the UV light 2512, the light shielding film2043 formed on a portion other than the bottom portion of thethrough-hole 2041 is not dissolved by the solvent.

Thus, the light shielding film removing unit 2502 can remove only thelight shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041as illustrated in FIG. 91A.

In step S2187, the hard mask removing unit 2503 removes the unnecessaryhard mask 2171 as illustrated in FIG. 90B. At that time, the unnecessarylight shielding film 2043 formed on a portion other than thethrough-hole 2041 is also removed.

In step S2188, the transparent support substrate separating unit 2504separates the transparent support substrate 2511 from the carriersubstrate 2161 as illustrated in FIG. 90C. As described above, since thelight shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of the through-hole 2041is removed already, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the“tearing-off” or the “taking-away” of the light shielding film 2043 whenthe transparent support substrate 2511 is separated.

When the process of step S2188 is ended, the through-hole lightshielding film forming process is ended and the process is returned toFIG. 65 .

When the light shielding film 2043 of the bottom portion of thethrough-hole 2041 is removed as described above, it is possible tosuppress the occurrence of “tearing-off” and “taking-away”. Accordingly,it is possible to improve the forming accuracy of the light shieldingfilm 2043 or the side wall 2051 in the periphery of the bottom portionof the through-hole 2041. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress adecrease in yield of the lens attached substrate 2011.

<Layered Lens Structure>

When the plurality of lens attached substrates 2011 including the lensattached substrate 2011 with such a configuration is laminated, thelayered lens structure 2012 can obtain the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 and hence suppress degradation in image quality.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2200 (FIG. 72 ) can manufacture thelayered lens structure 2012 capable of obtaining the same effect as thelens attached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 asdescribed above similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”.

<Camera Module>

Further, when the layered lens structure 2012 obtained by laminating theplurality of lens attached substrates 2011 including the lens attachedsubstrate 2011 with such a configuration and a sensor substrate arelaminated, the camera module 1 can obtain the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 and hence suppress degradation in image quality.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 2300 (FIG. 74 ) can manufacture thecamera module 1 capable of obtaining the same effect as the lensattached substrate 2011 (that is, suppressing degradation in imagequality) by using the manufactured lens attached substrate 2011 asdescribed above similarly to the case of “16. Other Embodiment 1”.

20. Application Example to Electronic Device

The camera module 1 can be used while being assembled to an electronicdevice using a solid state image capturing device in an image pickupunit (a photoelectric conversion unit) like an image capturing devicesuch as a digital still camera or a video camera, a portable devicehaving an image capturing function, or a copying machine using asolid-state image capturing device in an image reading unit.

FIG. 92 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of theimage capturing device as an electronic device employing the presenttechnology.

An image capturing device 3000 of FIG. 92 includes a camera module 3002and a digital signal processor (DSP) circuit 3003 as a camera signalprocessing circuit. Further, the image capturing device 3000 alsoincludes a frame memory 3004, a display unit 3005, a recording unit3006, an operation unit 3007, and a power supply 3008. The DSP circuit3003, the frame memory 3004, the display unit 3005, the recording unit3006, the operation unit 3007 and the power supply 3008 are connected toone another via a bus line 3009.

An image sensor 3001 in the camera module 3002 receives incident light(image light) from a subject, converts the amount of the incident lightformed on an imaging surface into an electric signal by the unit of apixel, and outputs the result as a pixel signal. The camera module 1 isemployed as the camera module 3002 and the image sensor 3001 correspondsto the light receiving element 12.

The display unit 3005 is configured as, for example, a panel typedisplay device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic electroluminescence (EL) panel and displays a moving image or a still imagecaptured by the image sensor 3001. The recording unit 3006 records amoving image or a still image captured by the image sensor 3001 on arecording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

The operation unit 3007 issues an operation instruction for variousfunctions of the image capturing device 3000 by the operation of theuser. The power supply 3008 appropriately supplies power used foroperating the DSP circuit 3003, the frame memory 3004, the display unit3005, the recording unit 3006, and the operation unit 3007 to the supplytarget thereof.

As described above, when the camera module 1 equipped with the layeredlens structure 11 bonded (laminated) with positioning high accuracy isused as the camera module 3002, an increase in image quality and adecrease in size can be realized. Thus, even in the image capturingdevice 3000 such as a video camera, a digital still camera, and a mobilecamera module for a cellular phone, a decrease in size of asemiconductor package and an increase in image quality of a capturedimage can be obtained at the same time.

21. Usage Example of Image Sensor

FIG. 93 is a diagram illustrating a usage example in which the cameramodule 1 is used as an image sensor.

An image sensor configured as the camera module 1 can be used in, forexample, various cases that sense visible light, infrared light, UVlight, and X-ray.

The image sensor can be applied to a device for capturing anappreciation image such as a digital camera or a portable device havinga camera function.

The image sensor can be applied to a traffic monitoring device such as avehicle installed sensor for capturing an image at a front position, arear position, a peripheral position, or an interior position of avehicle in order to check a safe driving mode such as an automatic stopor recognize a driver status, a monitoring camera for monitoring atraveling vehicle or a road, and a distance measuring sensor formeasuring a vehicle-to-vehicle distance.The image sensor can be applied to a device provided in a home electricappliance such as a TV, a refrigerator, and an air conditioner in orderto capture the gesture of a user and perform an operation in accordancewith the gesture.The image sensor can be applied to a medical or health care device suchas an endoscope or a device capturing a blood vessel by receivinginfrared light.The image sensor can be applied to a security device such as a crimeprevention monitoring camera or a face verifying camera.The image sensor can be applied to a cosmetic device such as a skinmeasuring unit capturing a skin or a microscope capturing a scalp.The image sensor can be applied to a sports device such as an actioncamera or a wearable camera used in sports.The image sensor can be applied to an agricultural device such as acamera for monitoring conditions of fields and crops.

The embodiment of the present technology is not limited to theabove-described embodiment, and various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit of the present technology.

For example, the present technology is not limited to the application ofthe solid state image capturing device which detects the distribution ofthe incident light amount of the visible light and captures the resultas an image. For example, the present technology can be applied to asolid state image capturing device which captures an input distributionof infrared light, X-ray, or particles as an image or a solid stateimage capturing device (a physical amount distribution detecting device)such as a finger print detecting sensor which detects other physicalamount distribution of a pressure or a capacitance to capture thedistribution as an image in a broad sense of meaning.

22. Software

A series of the above-described processes can be performed by hardwareor software. When a series of the above-described processes areperformed by the software, a program constituting the software isinstalled from a network or a recording medium.

For example, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2100 of FIG. 63, the recording medium is configured as the removable medium 2121 thatrecords a program, the removable medium being distributed to deliver theprogram to a user, in addition to the apparatus body. The removablemedium 2121 includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk) or anoptical disc (including a CD-ROM or a DVD). Further, the removablemedium also includes an optical magnetic disk (including a mini disc(MD)) or a semiconductor memory. In that case, for example, when theremovable medium 2121 is mounted onto the drive 2115, the program storedon the removable medium 2121 can be read and installed onto the storageunit 2113.

For example, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2200 of FIG. 72, the recording medium is configured as the removable medium 2221 thatrecords a program, the removable medium being distributed to deliver theprogram to a user, in addition to the apparatus body. The removablemedium 2221 includes a magnetic disk or an optical disc. Further, theremovable medium includes an optical magnetic disk or a semiconductormemory. In that case, for example, when the removable medium 2221 ismounted onto the drive 2215, the program stored on the removable medium2221 can be read and installed onto the storage unit 2213.

For example, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2300 of FIG. 74, the recording medium is configured as the removable medium 2321 thatrecords a program, the removable medium being distributed to deliver theprogram to a user, in addition to the apparatus body. The removablemedium 2321 includes a magnetic disk or an optical disc. The removablemedium further includes an optical magnetic disk or a semiconductormemory. In that case, for example, when the removable medium 2321 ismounted onto the drive 2315, the program stored on the removable medium2321 can be read and installed onto the storage unit 2313.

Further, the program can be provided through a wired or wirelesstransmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, anddigital satellite broadcasting. For example, in the case of themanufacturing apparatus 2100 of FIG. 63 , a program can be received bythe communication unit 2114 and be installed onto the storage unit 2113.For example, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2200 of FIG. 72, a program can be received by the communication unit 2214 and beinstalled onto the storage unit 2213. For example, in the case of themanufacturing apparatus 2300 of FIG. 74 , a program can be received bythe communication unit 2314 and be installed onto the storage unit 2313.

In addition, the program can be installed onto a storage unit or a ROMin advance. For example, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2100of FIG. 63 , a program can be installed onto the storage unit 2113 orthe ROM provided in the control unit 2101 in advance. Further, forexample, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus 2200 of FIG. 72 , aprogram can be installed onto the storage unit 2213 or the ROM providedin the control unit 2201 in advance. For example, in the case of themanufacturing apparatus 2300 of FIG. 74 , a program can be installedonto the storage unit 2313 or the ROM provided in the control unit 2301in advance.

In addition, a program performed by a computer may be a program which isperformed in time series according to the sequence described in thepresent specification or a program which is performed in parallel orperformed at a necessary timing in the event of a call.

Further, in the present specification, the step describing a programrecorded on a recording medium includes not only a process performed intime series according to the described procedure but also a processperformed in parallel or performed at an individual timing instead ofthe time-series process.

Further, the processes of the above-described steps can be performed bythe above-described devices or an arbitrary device other than theabove-described devices. In that case, a device for performing theprocess may have a function (a functional block or the like) necessaryto perform the above-described processes. Further, information necessaryfor the process may be appropriately transmitted to the device.

The technology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure maybe applied to various products. For example, the technology according toan embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to an internalinformation acquisition system for a patient, which uses an endoscopiccapsule.

FIG. 94 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of an internal information acquisition system 5400 towhich the technology according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be applied. Referring to FIG. 94 , the internalinformation acquisition system 5400 includes an endoscopic capsule 5401,and an external control device 5423 that centrally controls theoperation of the internal information acquisition system 5400. Theendoscopic capsule 5401 is swallowed by a patient in an examination. Theendoscopic capsule 5401 has an image capture function and a wirelesscommunication function. The endoscopic capsule 5401 moves through theinterior of organs such as the stomach and the intestines by peristalticmovement or the like until being excreted naturally from the patient,while also successively capturing images (hereinafter also calledinternal images) of the interior of the relevant organs at predeterminedintervals, and successively wirelessly transmitting information aboutthe internal images to the external control device 5423 outside thebody. Based on the received information about the internal images, theexternal control device 5423 generates image data for displaying theinternal images on a display device (not illustrated). In this way, withthe internal information acquisition system 5400, images depicting thepatient's internal conditions can be obtained continually from the timethe endoscopic capsule 5401 is swallowed to the time the endoscopiccapsule 5401 is excreted.

The configurations and functions of the endoscopic capsule 5401 and theexternal control device 5423 will be described in further detail. Asillustrated in FIG. 94 , the endoscopic capsule 5401 has the functionsof a light source unit 5405, an image capture unit 5407, an imageprocessing unit 5409, a wireless communication unit 5411, a power supplyunit 5415, a power source unit 5417, a status detection unit 5419, and acontrol unit 5421 built in a capsule-shaped housing 5403.

The light source unit 5405 includes a light source such as alight-emitting diode (LED), for example, and irradiates the imagingfield of the image capture unit 5407 with light.

The image capture unit 5407 includes an image sensor, and an opticalsystem made up of multiple lenses provided in front of the image sensor.Reflected light (hereinafter called observation light) from the lightused to irradiate a body tissue which is the object of observation iscondensed by the optical system and incident on the image sensor. Theimage sensor receives and photoelectrically converts the observationlight to thereby generate an electrical signal corresponding to theobservation light, or in other words, an image signal corresponding tothe observed image. The image signal generated by the image capture unit5407 is provided to the image processing unit 5409. Note that variousknown image sensors such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor(CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor may beused as the image sensor of the image capture unit 5407.

The image processing unit 5409 includes a processor such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU), and performsvarious types of signal processing on the image signal generated by theimage capture unit 5407. This signal processing may be a minimal levelof processing (such as image data compression, frame rate conversion,data rate conversion, and/or format conversion, for example) fortransmitting the image signal to the external control device 5423.Configuring the image processing unit 5409 to perform only a minimalnecessary level of processing makes it possible to realize the imageprocessing unit 5409 in a more compact form with lower powerconsumption, which is preferable for the endoscopic capsule 5401.However, if there is extra space or available power inside the housing5403, additional signal processing (such as a noise removal process orother image quality-improving processes, for example) may also beperformed by the image processing unit 5409. The image processing unit5409 provides the image signal subjected to the signal processing to thewireless communication unit 5411 as raw data. Note that if informationabout the status (such as movement or orientation) of the endoscopiccapsule 5401 is acquired by the status detection unit 5419, the imageprocessing unit 5409 may also provide the image signal to the wirelesscommunication unit 5411 in association with the information. This makesit possible to associate the position inside the body where an image iscaptured, the direction in which the image is captured and the like withthe captured image.

The wireless communication unit 5411 includes a communication devicecapable of transmitting and receiving various types of information toand from the external control device 5423. This communication deviceincludes, for example, an antenna 5413 and a processing circuit thatperforms processing such as modulation processing for transmitting andreceiving signals. The wireless communication unit 5411 performspredetermined processing such as modulation processing on the imagesignal that was subjected to the signal processing by the imageprocessing unit 5409, and transmits the image signal to the externalcontrol device 5423 via the antenna 5413. In addition, the wirelesscommunication unit 5411 receives, from the external control device 5423via the antenna 5413, a control signal related to driving control of theendoscopic capsule 5401. The wireless communication unit 5411 providesthe received control signal to the control unit 5421.

The power supply unit 5415 includes, for example, an antenna coil forreceiving power, a power regeneration circuit for regenerating powerfrom a current produced in the antenna coil, and a voltage step-upcircuit. In the power supply unit 5415, the principle of what is calledcontactless or wireless charging is used to generate power.Specifically, an external magnetic field (electromagnetic wave) of apredetermined frequency provided to the antenna coil of the power supplyunit 5415 produces an induced electromotive force in the antenna coil.This electromagnetic wave may be a carrier wave transmitted from theexternal control device 5423 via an antenna 5425, for example. Power isregenerated from the induced electromotive force by the powerregeneration circuit, and the electric potential of the power issuitably adjusted in the voltage step-up circuit, thereby generatingpower for power storage. The power generated by the power supply unit5415 is stored in the power source unit 5417.

The power source unit 5417 includes a secondary battery, and storespower generated by the power supply unit 5415. FIG. 94 omits arrows orthe like indicating the recipients of power from the power source unit5417 for brevity, but power stored in the power source unit 5417 issupplied to the light source unit 5405, the image capture unit 5407, theimage processing unit 5409, the wireless communication unit 5411, thestatus detection unit 5419, and the control unit 5421, and may be usedto drive these components.

The status detection unit 5419 includes a sensor such as an accelerationsensor and/or a gyro sensor for detecting the status of the endoscopiccapsule 5401. The status detection unit 5419 can acquire informationabout the status of the endoscopic capsule 5401 from detection resultsfrom the sensor. The status detection unit 5419 provides the acquiredinformation about the status of the endoscopic capsule 5401 to the imageprocessing unit 5409. As discussed earlier, in the image processing unit5409, the information about the status of the endoscopic capsule 5401may be associated with the image signal.

The control unit 5421 includes a processor such as a CPU, and centrallycontrols the operation of the endoscopic capsule 5401 by operating inaccordance with a predetermined program. The control unit 5421appropriately controls the driving of the light source unit 5405, theimage capture unit 5407, the image processing unit 5409, the wirelesscommunication unit 5411, the power supply unit 5415, the power sourceunit 5417, and the status detection unit 5419 in accordance with acontrol signal transmitted from the external control device 5423,thereby realizing the function of each component as described above.

The external control device 5423 may be a processor such as a CPU orGPU, or a device such as a microcontroller or a control board on which aprocessor and a storage element such as memory are mounted. The externalcontrol device 5423 includes the antenna 5425, and is capable oftransmitting and receiving various types of information to and from theendoscopic capsule 5401 via the antenna 5425. Specifically, the externalcontrol device 5423 controls the operation of the endoscopic capsule5401 by transmitting a control signal to the control unit 5421 of theendoscopic capsule 5401. For example, a light irradiation conditionunder which the light source unit 5405 irradiates a target ofobservation with light may be changed by a control signal from theexternal control device 5423. In addition, an image capture condition(such as the frame rate and the exposure level in the image capture unit5407, for example) may be changed by a control signal from the externalcontrol device 5423. In addition, the content of processing in the imageprocessing unit 5409 and a condition (such as the transmission intervaland the number of images to transmit, for example) under which thewireless communication unit 5411 transmits the image signal may bechanged by a control signal from the external control device 5423.

In addition, the external control device 5423 performs various types ofimage processing on the image signal transmitted from the endoscopiccapsule 5401, and generates image data for displaying a capturedinternal image on a display device. For the image processing, variousknown signal processing, such as a development process (demosaicingprocess), an image quality-improving process (such as a band enhancementprocess, a super-resolution process, a noise reduction (NR) process,and/or a shake correction process), and/or an enlargement process(electronic zoom process), may be performed. The external control device5423 controls the driving of a display device (not illustrated), andcauses the display device to display a captured internal image on thebasis of the generated image data. Alternatively, the external controldevice 5423 may also cause a recording device (not illustrated) torecord the generated image data, or cause a printing device (notillustrated) to make a printout of the generated image data.

The above describes an example of the internal information acquisitionsystem 5400 to which the technology according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be applied. Among the configurations described inthe foregoing, the technology according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be applied favorably to an endoscopic capsule.Specifically, this invention is effective for downsizing an imagingdevice and reducing the burden on patients applying technology accordingto an embodiment of the present.

23. Others

Further, in the present specification, the system indicates a group of aplurality of components (devices and modules (parts)) and all componentsmay not be provided in the same casing. Thus, a plurality of devicesreceived in separate casings and connected to one another via a networkand a device having a plurality of modules received in one casing allcorrespond to a system.

Further, in the description above, a configuration described as onedevice (or one process unit) may be divided into a plurality of devices(or process units). On the contrary, a plurality of devices (or processunits) described above may be integrated as one device (or one processunit). Further, a configuration other than the above-describedconfiguration may be added to the configuration of each device (or eachprocess unit). Further, when the configuration or the operation issubstantially the same in the entire system, a part of the configurationof a certain device (or a certain process unit) may be included in theconfiguration of the other device (or the other process unit).

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technicalscope of the present disclosure is not limited to the example. It isapparent that various modifications or corrections can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the claims by the person having a generalknowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure. Then, thesemodifications or corrections are also included in the technical scope ofthe present disclosure.

For example, the present technology can be a cloud computing technologyin which one function is distributed and shared by a plurality ofdevices via a network.

Further, the steps of the flowchart can be shared and performed by aplurality of devices instead of being performed by one device.

In addition, when a plurality of processes is included in one step, theplurality of processes included in one step can be shared and performedby a plurality of devices instead of being performed by one device.

Further, the present technology is not limited thereto. For example, thepresent technology can be performed by all configurations of thesedevices or the devices constituting the system, for example, a processorsuch as a system large scale integration (LSI), a module using aplurality of processors, a unit using a plurality of modules, and a set(that is, a configuration of a part of the device) having the otherfunctions added to the unit.

Further, the present technology can be realized by the combination of apart or the entirety of the above-described embodiments.

In addition, the effect of the present specification is merely anexample and is not limited. Further, an effect other than the effect ofthe present specification may be used.

In addition, the present technology can have the followingconfigurations.

(1) A lens attached substrate including:

a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a light shielding filmis formed on a side wall of the through-hole; and

a lens resin portion which is formed inside the through-hole of thesubstrate.

(2) The lens attached substrate according to (1),

wherein the light shielding film is formed of a black material.

(3) The lens attached substrate according to (2),

wherein the black material is a pigment of carbon black or titaniumblack.

(4) The lens attached substrate according to (1),

wherein the light shielding film is a metal film.

(5) The lens attached substrate according to (4),

wherein the metal film is tungsten or chrome.

-   -   (6) The lens attached substrate according to (1),        wherein the light shielding film is a chemical vapor deposition        (CVD) film.        (7) The lens attached substrate according to (6),        wherein the CVD film is a carbon nanotube.        (8) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (1) to        (7),        wherein an adhesion promoting agent for improving the        contactability between the lens resin portion and the side wall        of the through-hole is added to the light shielding film.        (9) The lens attached substrate according to (8),        wherein the adhesion promoting agent is a silane coupling agent.        (10) The lens attached substrate according to (8) or (9),        wherein a contact width between the light shielding film and the        lens resin portion is narrower than a width of the light        shielding film.        (11) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (1) to        (10),        wherein the lens resin portion is formed so that the light        shielding film is formed on a light incident surface of a        carrying portion as a portion other than a lens portion.        (12) A layered lens structure obtained by laminating a plurality        of lens attached substrates including a lens attached substrate        including a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a        light shielding film is formed on a side wall of the        through-hole and a lens resin portion which is formed inside the        through-hole of the substrate.        (13) A camera module obtained by laminating a layered lens        structure, which is obtained by laminating a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate including a        substrate having a through-hole formed therein and a light        shielding film formed on a side wall of the through-hole and a        lens resin portion formed inside the through-hole of the        substrate, and a sensor substrate in which an optical sensor is        formed on a substrate.        (14) A manufacturing apparatus including.        a first film forming unit which forms a light shielding film on        a side wall of a through-hole formed in a substrate; and        a lens forming unit which forms a lens resin portion contacting        the side wall of the through-hole having the light shielding        film formed by the first film forming unit at the inside of the        through-hole.        (15) The manufacturing apparatus according to (14),        wherein the first film forming unit forms the light shielding        film by using a black material.        (16) The manufacturing apparatus according to (15),        wherein the first film forming unit uses a pigment of carbon        black or titanium black as the black material.        (17) The manufacturing apparatus according to (14),        wherein the first film forming unit forms the light shielding        film by using a metal film.        (18) The manufacturing apparatus according to (17),        wherein the first film forming unit uses tungsten or chrome as        the metal film.        (19) The manufacturing apparatus according to (14),        wherein the first film forming unit forms the light shielding        film by using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) film.        (20) The manufacturing apparatus according to (19),        wherein the first film forming unit uses a carbon nanotube as        the CVD film.        (21) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (14) to        (20),        wherein the first film forming unit forms the light shielding        film by using a material including an adhesion promoting agent        for improving the contactability between the lens resin portion        and the side wall of the through-hole.        (22) The manufacturing apparatus according to (21),        wherein the first film forming unit uses a silane coupling agent        as the adhesion promoting agent.        (23) The manufacturing apparatus according to (21) or (22),        wherein the lens forming unit forms the lens resin portion so        that a contact width between the light shielding film and the        lens resin portion is narrower than a width of the light        shielding film.        (24) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (14) to        (23), further including:        a second film forming unit which forms a light shielding film on        a light incident surface of a carrying portion as a portion        other than a lens portion of the lens resin portion.        (25) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (14) to        (24), further including:        a through-hole forming unit which forms the through-hole in the        substrate.        (26) The manufacturing apparatus according to (25),        wherein the through-hole forming unit forms a hard mask on the        substrate, removes the hard mask of a portion provided with the        through-hole formed by processing the formed hard mask, and        forms the through-hole in the substrate.        (27) The manufacturing apparatus according to (25),        wherein the through-hole forming unit laminates a support        substrate having an etching stop film formed on the substrate,        forms a hard mask on a layered substrate obtained by laminating        the substrate and the support substrate, removes the hard mask        of a portion provided with the through-hole formed by processing        the formed hard mask, and forms the through-hole in the        substrate.        (28) A manufacturing method including:        forming a light shielding film on a side wall of a through-hole        formed in a substrate; and        forming a lens resin portion contacting the side wall of the        through-hole having the light shielding film formed thereon at        the inside of the through-hole.        (29) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit which includes:        a film forming unit forming a light shielding film on a side        wall of a through-hole formed in a substrate, and        a lens forming unit forming a lens resin portion contacting the        side wall of the through-hole having the light shielding film        formed by the film forming unit at the inside of the        through-hole; and        a bonding unit which laminates and bonds a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate manufactured        by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit.        (30) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by forming a light        shielding film on a side wall of a through-hole formed in a        substrate and forming a lens resin portion contacting the side        wall of the through-hole having the light shielding film formed        thereon at the inside of the through-hole; and        laminating and bonding a plurality of lens attached substrates        including the manufactured lens attached substrate.        (31) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a layered lens structure manufacturing unit which includes:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit including a film        forming unit forming a light shielding film on a side wall of a        through-hole formed in a substrate and a lens forming unit        forming a lens resin portion contacting the side wall of the        through-hole having the light shielding film formed by the film        forming unit at the inside of the through-hole, and        a first bonding unit laminating and bonding a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate manufactured        by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit; and        a second bonding unit which laminates and bonds a layered lens        structure manufactured by the layered lens structure        manufacturing unit and a sensor substrate having an optical        sensor formed on a substrate.        (32) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by forming a light        shielding film on a side wall of a through-hole formed in a        substrate and forming a lens resin portion contacting the side        wall of the through-hole having the light shielding film formed        thereon at the inside of the through-hole,        manufacturing a layered lens structure by laminating and bonding        a plurality of lens attached substrates with the manufactured        lens attached substrate; and        laminating and bonding the manufactured layered lens structure        and a sensor substrate having an optical sensor formed on a        substrate.        (33) A lens attached substrate including:        a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a light        shielding film is formed on a light incident surface or a light        emitting surface; and        a lens resin portion which is formed inside the through-hole of        the substrate.        (34) The lens attached substrate according to (33),        wherein the light shielding film is formed of a black material.        (35) The lens attached substrate according to (33) or (34),        wherein the light shielding film is formed on the entire surface        of the light incident surface or the light emitting surface of        the substrate.        (36) The lens attached substrate according to (33) or (34),        wherein the light shielding film is formed on a portion exposed        to the through-hole of the light incident surface or the light        emitting surface of the substrate while a plurality of the lens        attached substrates is laminated.        (37) The lens attached substrate according to (36),        wherein the light incident surface or the light emitting surface        of the substrate is provided with a step higher than a film        thickness of the light shielding film by a portion exposed to        the through-hole and a portion not exposed to the through-hole.        (38) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (33) to        (37),        wherein the light shielding film has a rough surface.        (39) The lens attached substrate according to (38),        wherein the light shielding film is processed in a film formed        state so that a surface becomes a rough surface.        (40) The lens attached substrate according to (38) or (39),        wherein the light shielding film has a rough surface formed by        the aggregation of a material.        (41) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (38) to        (40),        wherein the light shielding film has a rough surface formed by a        solid element included in a material.        (42) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (38) to        (41),        wherein the light shielding film is formed on the light incident        surface or the light emitting surface as the rough surface of        the substrate so that a surface becomes a rough surface.        (43) The lens attached substrate according to any one of (33) to        (42),        wherein the substrate further has the light shielding film        formed on the side wall of the through-hole.        (44) A layered lens structure obtained by laminating a plurality        of lens attached substrates with a lens attached substrate        including a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a        light shielding film is formed on a light incident surface or a        light emitting surface and a lens resin portion which is formed        inside the through-hole of the substrate.        (45) A camera module obtained by laminating a layered lens        structure, which is obtained by laminating a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate including a        substrate having a through-hole formed therein and a light        shielding film formed on a light incident surface or a light        emitting surface and a lens resin portion formed inside the        through-hole of the substrate, and a sensor substrate in which        an optical sensor is formed on a substrate.        (46) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a film forming unit which forms a light shielding film on a        light incident surface or a light emitting surface of a        substrate provided with a through-hole; and        a lens forming unit which forms a lens resin portion at the        inside of the through-hole of the substrate.        (47) The manufacturing apparatus according to (46),        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film by        using a black material.        (48) The manufacturing apparatus according to (46) or (47),        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film on        the entire surface of the light incident surface or the light        emitting surface of the substrate.        (49) The manufacturing apparatus according to (46) or (47),        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film on        a portion exposed to the through-hole of the light incident        surface or the light emitting surface of the substrate while a        plurality of the lens attached substrates is laminated.        (50) The manufacturing apparatus according to (49), further        including:        a processing unit which processes the light incident surface or        the light emitting surface of the substrate so as to form a step        higher than a film thickness of the light shielding film by a        portion exposed to the through-hole and a portion not exposed to        the through-hole.        (51) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (46) to        (50),        wherein the film forming unit processes a surface of the formed        light shielding film so that the surface becomes a rough        surface.        (52) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (46) to        (51),        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film by        using an aggregated material.        (53) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (46) to        (52),        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film by        using a material including a solid element.        (54) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (46) to        (53), further including:        a rough surface forming unit which performs a process including        etching or moth-eye processing on a portion having the light        shielding film formed by the film forming unit in the light        incident surface or the light emitting surface of the substrate        so that the portion has a rough surface,        wherein the film forming unit forms the light shielding film on        the light incident surface or the light emitting surface formed        as the rough surface by the rough surface forming unit.        (55) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (46) to        (54),        wherein the film forming unit further forms the light shielding        film on the side wall of the through-hole of the substrate.        (56) A manufacturing method including:        forming a light shielding film on a light incident surface or a        light emitting surface of a substrate provided with a        through-hole; and        forming a lens resin portion inside the through-hole of the        substrate.        (57) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit which includes a        film forming unit forming a light shielding film on a light        incident surface or a light emitting surface of a substrate        provided with a through-hole and a lens forming unit forming a        lens resin portion inside the through-hole of the substrate; and        a bonding unit which laminates and bonds a plurality of lens        attached substrates with the lens attached substrate        manufactured by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit.        (58) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by forming a light        shielding film on a light incident surface or a light emitting        surface of a substrate provided with a through-hole and forming        a lens resin portion inside the through-hole of the substrate;        and        laminating and bonding a plurality of lens attached substrates        with the manufactured lens attached substrate.        (59) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a layered lens structure manufacturing unit which includes:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit including a film        forming unit forming a light shielding film on a light incident        surface or a light emitting surface of a substrate provided with        a through-hole and a lens forming unit forming a lens resin        portion inside the through-hole of the substrate, and        a first bonding unit laminating and bonding a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate manufactured        by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit; and        a second bonding unit which laminates and bonds a layered lens        structure manufactured by the layered lens structure        manufacturing unit and a sensor substrate having an optical        sensor formed on a substrate.        (60) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by forming a light        shielding film on a light incident surface or a light emitting        surface of a substrate provided with a through-hole and forming        a lens resin portion inside the through-hole of the substrate;        manufacturing a layered lens structure by bonding and laminating        a plurality of lens attached substrates with the manufactured        lens attached substrate; and        laminating and bonding the manufactured layered lens structure        and a sensor substrate in which an optical sensor is formed on a        substrate.        (61) A lens attached substrate including:        a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a notch shape        is formed in a light emitting side end of a side wall of the        through-hole; and        a lens resin portion which is formed inside the through-hole of        the substrate.        (62) The lens attached substrate according to (61),        wherein a light shielding film is formed on a portion other than        the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of the through-hole.        (63) A layered lens structure obtained by laminating a plurality        of lens attached substrates with a lens attached substrate        including a substrate in which a through-hole is formed and a        notch shape is formed in a light emitting side end of a side        wall of the through-hole and a lens resin portion which is        formed inside the through-hole of the substrate.        (64) A camera module obtained by laminating a layered lens        structure, which is obtained by laminating a plurality of lens        attached substrates with a lens attached substrate including a        substrate having a through-hole formed therein and a notch shape        formed in a light emitting side end of a side wall of the        through-hole and a lens resin portion formed inside the        through-hole of the substrate, and a sensor substrate in which        an optical sensor is formed on a substrate.        (65) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a bonding unit which bonds a support substrate to a substrate;        a through-hole forming unit which forms a through-hole in the        substrate having the support substrate bonded thereto by the        bonding unit;        a notch shape forming unit which forms a notch shape in a light        emitting side end of a side wall of the through-hole formed in        the substrate by the through-hole forming unit;        a film forming unit which forms a light shielding film inside        the through-hole having the notch shape formed on the side wall        by the notch shape forming unit; and        a separating unit which separates the support substrate from the        substrate having the light shielding film formed on a portion        other than the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of the        through-hole by the film forming unit.        (66) The manufacturing apparatus according to (65),        wherein the notch shape forming unit forms the notch shape by        dry etching.        (67) The manufacturing apparatus according to (65) or (66),        wherein the bonding unit bonds the support substrate having an        etching stop film formed on a surface thereof to the substrate,        the through-hole forming unit forms the through-hole by etching        the substrate to the etching stop film, and        the notch shape forming unit forms the notch shape in the        vicinity of the etching stop film of the side wall of the        through-hole.        (68) The manufacturing apparatus according to (67), further        including:        an etching stop film removing unit which removes the etching        stop film of a bottom portion of the through-hole and the        periphery of the bottom portion after the notch shape is formed        by the notch shape forming unit.        (69) The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (65) to        (68),        wherein the bonding unit bonds the support substrate to the        substrate through plasma bonding.        (70) A manufacturing method including:        bonding a support substrate to a substrate;        forming a through-hole in the substrate to which the support        substrate is bonded:        forming a notch shape in a light emitting side end of a side        wall of the through-hole formed in the substrate;        forming a light shielding film inside the through-hole having        the notch shape formed in the side wall; and        separating the support substrate from the substrate in which the        light shielding film is formed on a portion other than the        notch-shaped portion of the side wall of the through-hole.        (71) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit which includes:        a bonding unit which bonds a support substrate to a substrate,        a through-hole forming unit which forms a through-hole in the        substrate to which the support substrate is bonded by the        bonding unit,        a notch shape forming unit which forms a notch shape in a light        emitting side end of a side wall of the through-hole formed in        the substrate by the through-hole forming unit,        a film forming unit which forms a light shielding film inside        the through-hole having the notch shape formed in the side wall        by the notch shape forming unit, and        a separating unit which separates the support substrate from the        substrate in which the light shielding film is formed on a        portion other than the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of        the through-hole by the film forming unit; and        a bonding unit which laminates and bonds a plurality of lens        attached substrates including a lens attached substrate        manufactured by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit.        (72) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by bonding a support        substrate to a substrate, forming a through-hole in the        substrate to which the support substrate is bonded, forming a        notch shape in a light emitting side end of a side wall of the        through-hole formed in the substrate, forming a light shielding        film inside the through-hole having the notch shape formed in        the side wall, and separating the support substrate from the        substrate in which the light shielding film is formed on a        portion other than the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of        the through-hole; and        laminating and bonding a plurality of lens attached substrates        including the manufactured lens attached substrate.        (73) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a layered lens structure manufacturing unit which includes:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit including:        a first bonding unit bonding a support substrate to a substrate,        a through-hole forming unit forming a through-hole in the        substrate to which the support substrate is bonded by the        bonding unit,        a notch shape forming unit forming a notch shape in a light        emitting side end of a side wall of the through-hole formed in        the substrate by the through-hole forming unit,        a film forming unit forming a light shielding film inside the        through-hole having the notch shape formed in the side wall by        the notch shape forming unit, and        a separating unit separating the support substrate from the        substrate in which the light shielding film is formed on a        portion other than the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of        the through-hole by the film forming unit, and        a second bonding unit laminating and bonding a plurality of lens        attached substrates including the lens attached substrate        manufactured by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit;        and        a third bonding unit which laminates and bonds the layered lens        structure manufactured by the layered lens structure        manufacturing unit and a sensor substrate having an optical        sensor formed on a substrate.        (74) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by bonding a support        substrate to a substrate, forming a through-hole in the        substrate to which the support substrate is bonded, forming a        notch shape in a light emitting side end of a side wall of the        through-hole formed in the substrate, forming a light shielding        film inside the through-hole having the notch shape formed in        the side wall, and separating the support substrate from the        substrate in which the light shielding film is formed on a        portion other than the notch-shaped portion of the side wall of        the through-hole;        manufacturing a layered lens structure by laminating and bonding        a plurality of lens attached substrates including the        manufactured lens attached substrate; and laminating and bonding        the manufactured layered lens structure and a sensor substrate        having an optical sensor formed on a substrate.        (75) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a bonding unit which bonds a transparent support substrate        allowing the transmission of light to a substrate;        a through-hole forming unit which forms a through-hole in the        substrate to which the transparent support substrate is bonded        by the bonding unit;        a film forming unit which forms a light shielding film inside        the through-hole formed in the substrate by the through-hole        forming unit;        a light shielding film removing unit which removes the light        shielding film formed on a bottom portion of the through-hole by        irradiating the bottom portion of the through-hole with light        through the transparent support substrate; and        a separating unit which separates the transparent support        substrate from the substrate in which the light shielding film        of the bottom portion of the through-hole is removed by the        light shielding film removing unit.        (76) The manufacturing apparatus according to (75),        wherein the light shielding film removing unit emits UV light.        (77) The manufacturing apparatus according to (75) or (76),        wherein the bonding unit bonds the transparent support substrate        to the substrate through plasma bonding.        (78) A manufacturing method including:        bonding a transparent support substrate allowing the        transmission of light to a substrate; forming a through-hole in        the substrate to which the transparent support substrate is        bonded;        forming a light shielding film inside the through-hole formed in        the substrate;        removing the light shielding film formed on a bottom portion of        the through-hole by irradiating the bottom portion of the        through-hole with light through the transparent support        substrate; and        separating the transparent support substrate from the substrate        in which the light shielding film of the bottom portion of the        through-hole is removed.        (79) A manufacturing apparatus including:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit which includes:        a bonding unit bonding a transparent support substrate allowing        the transmission of light to a substrate,        a through-hole forming unit forming a through-hole in the        substrate to which the transparent support substrate is bonded        by the bonding unit,        a film forming unit forming a light shielding film inside the        through-hole formed in the substrate by the through-hole forming        unit,        a light shielding film removing unit removing the light        shielding film formed on a bottom portion of the through-hole by        irradiating the bottom portion of the through-hole with light        through the transparent support substrate, and        a separating unit separating the transparent support substrate        from the substrate in which the light shielding film of the        bottom portion of the through-hole is removed by the light        shielding film removing unit; and        a bonding unit which laminates and bonds a plurality of lens        attached substrates including the lens attached substrate        manufactured by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit.        (80) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by bonding a transparent        support substrate allowing the transmission of light to a        substrate, forming a through-hole in the substrate to which the        transparent support substrate is bonded, forming a light        shielding film inside the through-hole formed in the substrate,        removing the light shielding film formed on a bottom portion of        the through-hole by irradiating the bottom portion of the        through-hole with light through the transparent support        substrate, and separating the transparent support substrate from        the substrate in which the light shielding film of the bottom        portion of the through-hole is removed; and        laminating and bonding a plurality of lens attached substrates        including the manufactured lens attached substrate.        (81) A manufacturing apparatus including.        a layered lens structure manufacturing unit which includes:        a lens attached substrate manufacturing unit including:        a first bonding unit bonding a transparent support substrate        allowing the transmission of light to a substrate,        a through-hole forming unit forming a through-hole in the        substrate to which the transparent support substrate is bonded        by the bonding unit,        a film forming unit forming a light shielding film inside the        through-hole formed in the substrate by the through-hole forming        unit,        a light shielding film removing unit removing the light        shielding film formed on a bottom portion of the through-hole by        irradiating the bottom portion of the through-hole with light        through the transparent support substrate, and        a separating unit separating the transparent support substrate        from the substrate in which the light shielding film of the        bottom portion of the through-hole is removed by the light        shielding film removing unit, and        a second bonding unit laminating and bonding a plurality of lens        attached substrates including the lens attached substrate        manufactured by the lens attached substrate manufacturing unit;        and        a third bonding unit which laminates and bonds the layered lens        structure manufactured by the layered lens structure        manufacturing unit and a sensor substrate having an optical        sensor formed on a substrate.        (82) A manufacturing method including:        manufacturing a lens attached substrate by bonding a transparent        support substrate allowing the transmission of light to a        substrate, forming a through-hole in the substrate to which the        transparent support substrate is bonded, forming a light        shielding film inside the through-hole formed in the substrate,        removing the light shielding film formed on a bottom portion of        the through-hole by irradiating the bottom portion of the        through-hole with light through the transparent support        substrate, and separating the transparent support substrate from        the substrate in which the light shielding film of the bottom        portion of the through-hole is removed;        manufacturing a layered lens structure by laminating and bonding        a plurality of lens attached substrates including the        manufactured lens attached substrate; and        laminating and bonding the manufactured layered lens structure        and a sensor substrate having an optical sensor formed on a        substrate.        (83) A lens substrate including:        a substrate including a through-hole;        a light-shielding film disposed on a side wall of the        through-hole; and        a lens portion disposed inside the through-hole of the        substrate.        (84) The lens substrate according to (83), wherein the        light-shielding film includes a black material, wherein the        black material includes at least one of carbon black or titanium        black.        (85) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (84),        wherein the light-shielding film is a metal film including at        least one of tungsten or chrome.        (86) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (85),        wherein the light-shielding film is a chemical vapor deposition        (CVD) film including a plurality of carbon nanotubes.        (87) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (86),        wherein the light-shielding film includes an adhesion promoting        agent.        (88) The lens substrate according to (87), wherein the adhesion        promoting agent includes a silane coupling agent.        (89) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (88),        wherein a width of a cross-section of the light shielding film        contacting the lens portion is less than a depth of the        through-hole portion that includes the light-shielding film.        (90) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (89),        further comprising: a carrying portion provided between the lens        portion and the sidewall of the through-hole, wherein the        light-shielding film is disposed on a light-incident surface of        the carrying portion.        (91) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (90),        wherein the lens substrate is a first lens substrate, and a        stacked plurality of lens substrates including the first lens        substrate is included in a layered lens structure.        (92) The lens substrate according to (91), wherein the layered        lens substrate is integrated in a camera module having a sensor        substrate that includes an optical sensor.        (93) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (92),        wherein the light-shielding film is disposed on at least one of        a light-incident surface of the substrate or a light-emitting        surface of the substrate.        (94) The lens substrate according to (93), further comprising: a        second lens substrate laminated on the lens substrate, wherein        the light-shielding film is formed on a portion of at least one        of the light-incident surface of the substrate or the        light-emitting surface of the substrate above or below a        through-hole in the second substrate.        (95) The lens substrate according to (94), wherein at least one        of the light-incident surface of the substrate or the        light-emitting surface of the substrate includes a step portion        that includes a portion exposed to the through-hole and a        portion not exposed to the through-hole, wherein a height of the        step portion is greater than a thickness of the light-shielding        film.        (96) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (95),        wherein a surface of the light-shielding film is a rough        surface.        (97) The lens substrate according to (96), wherein the rough        surface of the light-shielding film is imparted on the        light-shielding film after the light-shielding film has been        disposed on the substrate.        (98) The lens substrate according to (96), wherein the surface        of the light-shielding film includes an aggregation of a        material that causes the surface to be uneven.        (99) The lens substrate according to (99), wherein a solid        element included in a material causes the surface of the        light-shielding film to be rough.        (100) The lens substrate according to (99), wherein a surface of        the substrate on which the light-shielding film is formed is a        rough surface causing the surface of the light-shielding film to        be rough.        (101) The lens substrate according to any one of (83) to (100),        wherein the substrate includes a notched portion at a        light-emitting end of the sidewall of the through-hole.        (102) The lens substrate according to (101), wherein the        light-shielding film is disposed on a portion of the        through-hole other than the notched portion of the sidewall of        the through-hole.        (103) A method of manufacturing a lens substrate, the method        comprising:        forming a through-hole in a substrate;        forming a light-shieling film on a sidewall of the through-hole;        and        forming a lens portion within the through-hole such that the        lens portion contacts the light-shielding film formed on the        sidewall of the through-hole.        (104) An electronic apparatus comprising:        a plurality of lens substrates, each lens substrate of the        plurality of substrates including:        a substrate including a through-hole,        a light-shielding film disposed on a sidewall of the        through-hole, and        a lens portion disposed inside the through-hole of the        substrate; and        a sensor substrate that includes an optical sensor.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 Camera module-   11 Layered lens structure-   12 Light receiving element-   13 Optical unit-   21 Lens-   41 (41 a to 41 e) Lens attached substrate-   43 Sensor substrate-   51 Diaphragm plate-   52 Opening portion-   81 Carrier substrate-   82 Lens resin portion-   83 Through-hole-   121 Light shielding film-   122 Upper surface layer-   123 Lower surface layer-   141 Etching mask-   142 Protection film-   2011 Lens attached substrate-   2012 Layered lens structure-   2040 Carrier substrate-   2041 Through-hole-   2042 Lens resin portion-   2043 Light shielding film-   2044 Upper surface layer-   2045 Lower surface layer-   2100 Manufacturing apparatus-   2101 Control unit-   2102 Lens attached substrate manufacturing unit-   2131 Carrier substrate processing unit-   2132 Lens forming unit-   2133 Surface layer film forming unit-   2134 Light shielding film forming unit-   2151 Hard mask film forming unit-   2152 Hard mask processing unit-   2153 Through-hole forming unit-   2154 Light shielding film forming unit-   2161 Carrier substrate-   2171 Hard mask-   2181 Support substrate bonding unit-   2182 Support substrate separating unit-   2191 Support substrate-   2192 Etching stop film-   2200 Manufacturing apparatus-   2201 Control unit-   2202 Layered lens structure manufacturing unit-   2231 Lens attached substrate manufacturing unit-   2232 Lens attached substrate bonding unit-   2300 Manufacturing apparatus-   2301 Control unit-   2302 Camera module manufacturing unit-   2331 Layered lens structure manufacturing unit-   2332 Sensor substrate manufacturing unit-   2333 Bonding unit-   2334 Dividing unit-   2335 Module unit-   2451 Notch shape forming unit-   2452 Hard mask etching stop film removing unit-   2501 Transparent support substrate bonding unit-   2502 Light shielding film removing unit-   2503 Hard mask removing unit-   2504 Transparent support substrate separating unit-   2511 Transparent support substrate-   2512 UV light-   3000 Image capturing device-   3001 Image sensor-   3002 Camera module

The invention claimed is:
 1. A stacked lens structure, comprising: afirst, second, and third lens substrate with a lens formed inside athrough-hole, wherein the second lens substrate is above the first lenssubstrate, wherein the third lens substrate is below the first lenssubstrate, wherein a thickness of the second lens substrate is differentfrom a thickness of the third lens substrate, wherein the first andsecond lens substrates and the first and third lens substrates arebonded together by direct bonding, wherein, each through-hole has arectangular shape in a planar direction of each lens substrate, andwherein an opening width of each through-hole is smaller at a secondsurface of each lens substrate than at a first surface of each lenssubstrate.
 2. The stacked lens structure according to claim 1, whereinthe first surface of each lens substrate is a light incident surface. 3.The stacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein an aperturewidth on the first surface of each lens substrate is smaller than anaperture width on the second surface of each lens substrate.
 4. Thestacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein an aperture widthon the first surface of each lens substrate is larger than an aperturewidth on the second surface of each lens substrate.
 5. The stacked lensstructure according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first,second, and third lens substrates have an aperture width comprising adownward narrowed shape, and wherein other of the first, second, andthird lens substrate have an aperture width comprising a downwardwidened shape.
 6. The stacked lens structure according to claim 1,wherein in a cross-sectional view side walls of a through-hole arestraight.
 7. The stacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein ina cross-sectional view side walls of a through-hole are curved.
 8. Thestacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein in across-sectional view side walls of a through-hole have a step.
 9. Thestacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein in across-sectional view side walls of a through-hole have an angle ofapproximately 55° to at least one lens substrate surface.
 10. Thestacked lens structure according to claim 1, wherein the direct bondingcomprises covalent bonding between a surface layer of oxides or nitridesformed on one lens substrate surface and a surface layer of oxides ornitrides formed on another substrate surface.
 11. A camera moduleincluding a stacked lens structure according to claim
 1. 12. The cameramodule according to claim 11, further comprising: an optical sensor. 13.An electronic apparatus including a stacked lens structure according toclaim
 1. 14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, furthercomprising: an optical sensor.